#That day something changed inside Talia

[ghurab-alzilal]

3 y/o Damian: Mama?

Talia: What?

3 y/o Damian, growling : Not you!

*awkward silence *

LoA's Jason: M-me?

3 y/o Damian: Duh?! Come here! Read me a bedtime tale! *takes Jason by the hand and leaves with him *

[lavilavs]

୨୧ ── Starts with a cliché, ends with a cliché

› Pairing: Damian Wayne x Fem!Reader

› Scenario: Life is full of clichés, no? It just so happens that its favorite is Damian and the stuck-up rich heiress that he met on his first day of school. He can't stand being your shojo-manga-made love guru (that sucks, sadly) anymore if you keep on having angst as your genre.

› Warnings: Light cursing and light KMS jokes

› Notes: English is not my first language + Reblogs and likes are very appreciated! + Is it obvious I like friends-to-lovers? + 80% backstory, 20% present time (jk) .. 4k words

A sigh leaves his lips. It was difficult to finish one chapter without you popping inside his mind. You've been dancing around in his train of thought the whole day. Memories of the past have resurfaced without reason.

Perhaps he misses you that much.

Damian sets the first manga you've lent him with care by the side. The bustling street across his windows entice him to stand up. It's time to do something else other than read. Apparently, reading manga fuels his desire to visit you after a week of no communication.

You've been silent since you've fought with your first normal boyfriend.

Through his window, he noticed the old bookstore a few streets down to the west was now gone. Damian watches the cranes and construction workers build something new on top of it. That store had sentimental value for both of you. You used to sneak with him there after class to recommend some manga.

His reflection on the mirror adds another thought to his head. He's changed so much. Damian was taller and mature than he was before. Everything has changed since he went to Gotham. Even when he wasn't born, everything has changed.

Change is the only thing permanent in the world. Everyone knows that. Humans have lived and gone through change that nobody could disagree with. Damian learned and accepted change at a young age, believing that it is the only thing constant in a world that is different every day.

That's what he used to believe—until he met your annoying, spoiled ass one random Monday at school.

"You're handsome. I like you, you're mine now."

"What did you just say?"

"You're mine."

And it ends up being one of the famous last words of a spoiled heiress who just got thrown onto the floor by a boy who grew up being trained since he first learned how to walk.

You pointed at him and declared that with no warnings whatsoever; how couldn't he react harshly? If you expected him to drop down on his knees to solemnly pledge his love for you like the stories your nanny told you before bedtime, you were dead wrong.

In fact, your nanny was wrong about everything! Not all men who look like a prince act like one. Even the Beast would be put to shame if they cast this little twerp as his younger brother with rabies, if he had one. Sadly, he'll be scouted as a dog in romcoms who bites nuts instead. Because he for sure looks like he will when prompted to.

To think that a fresh 14-year-old Damian Wayne would be the one to forcefully push you out of your Disney princess phase and into your typical teenage girl fixations phase. Puberty held their hands up and slowly walked away on having their job stolen away.

"Hmph." 

He scoffed when he saw tears threatening to spill from your eyes as you dusted and straightened your blouse and skirt. The women in the League of Assassins was obviously much stronger and tougher than you, but it didn't make his disappointment any less.

Being surrounded with people who had a 'kill or be killed' mindset and then thrown into a normal society where safety is a given with all these superheroes protecting them... It's throwing him off.

It was apparent that you were one of those stuck-up rich kids with the way you acted. Judging with the book of cliches in mind, you'll cry about this to your parents later and have him arrested and put into a life behind bars for eternity. 

Good luck with that when he has Bruce Wayne and Talia Al Ghul as his parents. Although, he can easily break out by himself.

But there was one mistake. One that cost him a life's worth of embarrassment in school. After all, "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." That arrogance of his cost him his family jewels getting kicked by you. 

He missed the other cliché—crying makes you stronger.

Oh, and this backstory? Yeah, totally not related to the first paragraph. It's just Damian reminiscing back to the old days because he's appalled that you're still a hopeless romantic that makes him doubt that change is permanent. 

Damian Wayne-Al Ghul is sitting here listening to your girl problems. Not just any girl problem—it's your love problem! A recurring yet still difficult topic for both of you.

And how is it difficult, you may ask? Simple—the boyfriends you pick certainly aren't the brightest or the kindest, so even the logical Damian Wayne is troubled by how your boyfriend of the week is acting.

The use of their intelligence surpasses even his, and not in a positive way. How can he even begin to comprehend that one time when a guy who almost took you out on a date unhingedly recommended you not to search him up?

You must've thought, "Holy shit, is he a celebrity from another country?" and that would've been ideal if he weren't included in the local wanted list! That gorgeous specimen had charges of multiple felonies, arson, theft, and a lot more.

When you cried about it to him, you were more concerned about the fact that he specifically told you not to search him up. Like—just be quiet, bro. You didn't have to say all that. And the fact that he didn't even use a fake name? clever. Wow, Einstein would be turning in his grave from having his title of world's smartest man stolen.

With that pretty face of his, you wouldn't even think he'd do all of that, to be honest. But pretty privilege doesn't work on Damian. No matter who they were, they deserved a background check. Or perhaps a Google check would be fitting given the circumstances. Thank God he did. What could he have done when something happened to you?

Another funny, ironic cliché has happened to poor, little Damian. Fate rolled his dice of cliché, and it somehow ended up being the "the more you hate, the more you love" cliché that happens to characters that start off sour but end up falling in love with each other.

Only that it was one-sided—at the moment!—on his part.

His confession ended up being a total failure when he realized you didn't like him anymore like you once said you did. Damian still thought you did because of your words—those words of declaration you did 6 years ago, that is.

The flowers in his hand wilted downwards, saddened by the surprising rejection of their buyer.

"You told me I was yours?"

"Did I? I don't remember."

That stupid look on your face almost made him crash out.

"Do you even remember how we first met?" He groans, threading his fingers through his hair.

"What? You didn't just spawn in my life?!"

It was a miracle Damian didn't go berserk, Damian couldn't find the energy to be furious when that surprise in your voice was genuine. Did he throw you too hard, perhaps? If he did, he wanted to go back in time just to give you your own kick to the nuts. Not that you had one! Just figuratively speaking.

Damian dreads the thought of hurting you again. But if you were going to turn out less of a stuck-up rich kid and his friend? It was a small sacrifice to be made. But also... with a little hint of revenge 'cause that shit still hurts his pride.

Oh—so many conclusions in his mind that he's starting to laugh slowly like a maniac.

"None of that matters anyway! We're friends, Dami. This confession is the worst that could happen to us." You laugh at his face while having him in a headlock.

That chippy smile on your face looked so annoying to see, and yet, it also served as his tranquilizer.

How could he be mad when you already looked so happy to have him in your life? It slowly dawned on him that it wasn't that bad to be just your friend. 

Only until you went on a spree with love interests that were...

1.) Had the brain of a rock

Whether emotional or plain intelligence, the contenders could never have both. Having both was only a myth. A story you would only hear from your other girlfriends. It was amazing that they were blessed in the boyfriend department. Guess God really makes all of us equal with situations like this.

And the worst of the worst,

2.) Criminals

It's self-explanatory. If that's not enough to hear, Damian swears he wants to bash his head every time you tell him about your villain hear-me-outs. In exhibit A we had Poison Ivy and Arkham Knight. It was understandable at some point. When he asked you what part of them is attractive, he wasn't ready to hear your answer.

"First of all, are you too busy fighting for your life that you can't see Poison Ivy's gorgeous face? Dude, every stolen picture of her is totally hot! She's so photogenic."

"I could hear you out on Ivy, but Arkham Knight? Please, elaborate." He was so done with your bullshit. The way you even prepare yourself into that pose before you speak into an imaginary mic has him dumbfounded.

"I can't see his face."

"Pardon?"

"All aura. No face. Very hear-me-out material." You nod in agreement at yourself whilst the boy shakes his head sideways.

And then we have Exhibit B... Yeah, no. Not elaborating.

"Hear me out on Psimon."

Before Damian could process what you said, you had already passed by him with your friends. It wasn't of importance, just another hear me out. Then it clicked.

"The big-brained midget?!"

If only he wasn't in school, he would've yelled that with all of his might. The best he could do was whisper-shout with a disgusted look. It was just too shocking for him to not say it out loud. That information was something that needed to be spat out.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, his ears perking up at that custom notification sound he set up for you.

: As if you aren't? :p

Damian suddenly felt cold. Have you developed super hearing all this time? How long have you had those powers? Oh, shit—if you have super hearing, then all the compliments he whispered into the air, you heard all of that? Okay, no need to linger on it any further, Damian! What matters is that she didn't understand the compliments you said in Arabic.

With the secret out, he typed back.

: Super hearing... That's impressive.

Within a few seconds he already got your reply.

: Do I look like Superman's secret love child? My parents are the blandest and most boring people here in Gotham, dude. How can I have powers?

: Besides, this goes to show that I know you well enough to know what you're thinking. <3

He erupts into steam, his eyebrows furrowing at the small heart at the end of the message. The warmth in his ears teases him, a reminder of his feelings for you. It wasn't even intended that way, and he still finds it cute.

Ah, where were we?

Right, going back to your dating history—it was either academically and emotionally challenged ones or plain criminals.

Have you dated the mentioned criminals above?

No, you didn't. It was just crushes.

Ask Damian about it, and he'll tell you that exhibit A and exhibit B would be far better than the criminals you actually date. Because they actually have brains that the exhibit C of criminals—don't! The Google guy about 46 paragraphs ago is one of the prime examples of exhibit C.

Either way, Damian Wayne is still your best friend through and through, even if you are... questionable. You're one of the first to have broken down his walls.

You didn't soften the devil child with love. It wasn't that you saved him from a dire moment either because let's be honest with ourselves—who'd win in a fight? A sheltered heiress who rebels or a child born from a lineage of assassins and skilled crime fighters? It was such a coughing baby vs. hydrogen bomb question. 

Everything started when you started reading shojo mangas after the incident with Damian on the first day of school. You were too preoccupied by your manga that you bumped shoulders with him making you drop it onto his feet.

Damian already recognized you as the girl who kicked his nuts. A grimace on his face when he looked at the book that was once in your hands.

He picked up what you were reading and was immediately entranced by the wonderful colors the panel had. The romantic dialouge that was written with heart and soul was speaking to him so poetically. There's no context or any understanding about the story and yet he felt every word in this new profound piece of literature.

"If you want one, go ask your mommy or daddy to buy you one, because I am not sharing with the likes of you." 

You really have a way of annoying him. 

The confident strut you have in your walk annoys him further. It has arrogance like his. The others weren't important as long as you had fun and remained yourself. Even so, he's drawn in. He made sure to find you in recess. 

Damian finds you alone in the center with that book up in your face. It was no smiling matter but he was glad there was less people around you. Guess people can't keep with your stuck-up attitude too, huh. His own attitude falters with each step he takes towards you, it was getting hard to approach you after all that planning inside his head.

Was he shy? No way! Damian Wayne Al Ghul can't be shy now. Especially not to a girl who has her head up high in the clouds. He's just here for those books of yours. 

He smoothly sits down across you, eyes meeting anything but yours. And when it does, you're both surprised at the softness it held. Your mouth wants to say something. Something mean, something sassy, anything to push him away.

"Why are you here?" Your mind wants him to stay. 

Otherwise, you wouldn't have questioned him.

"What's that book you're reading?" He stretches himself to get a closer look at the manga.

A big smile adorns your face. You repeatedly slap the seat beside you, getting him to stand up.

"I'm glad you asked! And correction, it's called a manga." Damian doesn't find your eye rolls annoying now that he knows there's a humorous undertone to it.

He receives the manga with a smile when you held it out for him. 

"I'm Damian Wayne. You are?"

And that was just the start of Damian Wayne learning more about romance. With the help of mangas and his family, he learned to care about others and that there was different kinds of love. There was no denying that you were a big factor in creating who he is now. Thanks to you and your 'weird' interests.

It's just ironic that the knowledge he got from it is now used as reference for your bestie therapy. Damian wants to joke that you might've gotten him hooked on shojo's to make him your own love guru. 

And let's face it—even if Damian was helping you by comforting and giving advice... his only experience with love was the time he liked you and prior knowledge about how couples act from shojo manga alone.

To put it simply, he wasn't the best love guru you could've picked.

Still, he tries his best for you. Damian still had you in his heart. No hard feelings if he was only your friend. All that he wants now is for you to finally find your match here in Gotham.

He once recommended you to try long distance relationships. The men in Gotham aren't exactly romancable when they have a chance of having a criminal record. And as your best friend and love guru, candidates involved in crime is a no-go.

But you refused, you only wanted a man from Gotham. 

"I mean, you and Dick are from Gotham, you're both decent. Along with Bruce... I guess. So, there's hope!"

When you finally found a decent boyfriend who graduated college and has no criminal record, it was as if the heavens have heard both of your prayers to find you a man in Gotham who lives like a saint.

And yet, you're here. Crying in Damian's arms more than ever. 

You clearly loved this guy more than everyone you dated. He was just a guy. And that's why you love him. And because he was just a guy, he had the balls to cheat—cheat on you of all people!

"Saint my ass, the only thing blessed about him is his looks. If he didn't have that, he would be nothing! Can you imagine waking up early in the morning to go to gym, go home, doomscroll, eat, and sleep? God, I'd kill myself."

He knows he shouldn't laugh.

"It's okay to laugh, that's how I get through knowing my roster of ex lovers." You show him a sarcastic laugh that slowly makes him cease. He puts his hands up in mock defeat with an apologetic smile on his face.

"I'm sorry. Just... still not used to your words like that. It cracks me up." He laughs again. Yes, this is your emergency contact as well by the way.

"I'd seriously kill myself if I lived like that, Dami. Imagine a life like that—imagine it was completely opposite to the one you have now—you'd kill yourself too, right?!" You were so adamant with your words that he can't stop laughing. That dead serious stare was too much.

Damian ceases his laughter for your sake, having enough of clowning the situation and focusing on the real issue at hand.

"I get that this is your coping, beloved, but you'll have to tell me everything that happened for me to help you." His soft voice almost makes you cry again. Damian's gaze has you melting beneath his sight, full of affection for you to handle just yet. You nod slowly.

"Okay, okay, but let's do that."

"We'll do that, don't worry."

Damian plops you down on his bed, shutting his blinds and locking the door before you felt the bed dip beside you from his weight. The blanket flies up in the air and landed on both of you. His scent on the fabric surrounded you, basking you more with his warmth.

It was too dark to see, just like you wanted it. He wouldn't see your face, you wouldn't see his. It was perfect to say everything without worrying about the other.

His hands search for your face, cupping it gently. As you felt his arms cage your body close to his, it was your sign to start talking. 

"I don't understand how he could betray me like that. How they all could betray me. I've thought about it a lot. I can't seem to find any reason for them to leave." You notice your words and Damian could already feel how nervous you are with your slip up.

"Not that I say that in a negative way, I just—" 

"I know. I know you. You've changed."

You haven't and Damian prays you won't ever change. 

He feels your hold tighten around him. You're scared to lose him too.

"I say that there shouldn't be any reason for them to leave because I know our boundaries, I support them whatever and whenever I can, I give them assurance, I earn their trust, and I love them with all of my heart." Damian pats your head as you ramble. 

You were tearing up, making a stain on his shoulder. He hears your hiccups beside him, struggling to contain it any longer. 

"Do I have a quality that I can't see that makes people leave? Is it that unlovable and hideous? Dami, can you see it? If you do... tell me why I'm so hard to love."

The silence is agonizing for you. Damian can't even speak about it. You're overthinking that maybe you do have a bad quality that's unnoticeable to you. Is he thinking how to sugarcoat it? That only makes it worse. What's the point of doing this if he'll turn back on the agreement of saying nothing but the truth?

"Before I answer you—may I ask you a question, beloved?" 

Happiness swells in your heart when you hear his voice. He smiles when he feels your nod against his chest.

"Do you think they know your worth if they treated you like that?"

You feel his eyes stare at you through the darkness. You'd know it was him based on the warmth it radiates. So intense... and it was all directed at you. He shifts you closer before speaking again.

"Even a real diamond loses its worth if its seen as a fake' heard that before, beloved? And I'm sure you've noticed the way they treated you." Damian's anger was evident in his last sentence. He was pissed that they let you think you were below them. 

"If it was up to me, I'd treat you right. Even better than them."

He feels your head snap at his words, gazing back at him in the darkness. This wasn't the usual advice he gives. It doesn't sound like it came from a manga. It wouldn't have been if it came directly from Damian's heart. 

He had no mangas to help you today, no mangas with wisdom to share about your predicament, no cheesy quotes to relieve you off your stress... just his heart. It was words written by his heart long ago. The unsent letters it wrote inside of him was about to be delivered by his mouth unrelentlessly.

"I'd love you right, until you're reminded of your 'worth'." Fuck, how you wish you could see him right now. You want to see his face as he tells you everything that will cure your anxiety. 

The horrible dating history has left you with fear that if you let Damian in, he'll also notice that bad quality of yours that makes everyone leave. It terrifies you to even think of it. You can't handle getting your first love and friend taken away from you too. People just leave when they get to know you... or after they get something from you.

You seclude yourself to avoid that pain again. Damian understood that overtime. He also failed to see who you really were beneath that persona you created for yourself. But now that he's gotten to know you a lot better. Best believe that he'll make you feel that the 'worth' you fret so much about is as high as his inhertitance combined.

"But, do not base yourself on that metaphor. You are no diamond with an unstable 'worth'. You are you; a person worth loving." He sounds apologetic for bringing that diamond thing in the first place, but surely, you must've understood his intentions behind it... hopefully.

"And...—" A sudden bright headlight seeps through his blinds, giving you a clear view of his warm face staring at you as if you were the most precious person he's ever laid eyes on. It was quick to disappear as it was to appear, the dark room had nothing but both of you in Damian's bed having a second chance with confessions.

Has your name sounded this angelic with his tongue before? Yes, many times.

His big hand clasps with yours, the other pushes a strand back in your ear.

"I'll have various words to replace the word 'hard' in the words 'You aren't hard to love'. Be it difficult, punishing, strenous, heavy, tough, tiring, hellish, complicated—and a lot more, but shit, how can it be when its so easy for me to love you?" 

Ah—don't cry, don't cry, don't cry! 

Too late, you're sobbing.

He chuckles while wiping your tears away.

"Love has different forms, right? I was content having a platonic one that made loving you a dream. But if the men who can't even dream of loving you like me can have you—then, stay by my side instead." As if that wasn't making you cry, Damian wasn't done.

"I'm not difficult to love as well. I'm happy alone with the thought that the woman who taught me how to love—has learned to love me back after all these years."

His body melts at your touch, gently caressing his face with the warmth he longed for.

"Dumbass. I learned that years ago." 

How cliché can this be? You've loved him all this time.

extra scene - 01

It felt right for everything to end and start this way. If only your taste in men wasn't questionable enough to make you question yourself if you're lovable, you would have been snuggling like this with Damian years ago.

He hears you grumble about it.

"We've always done this before, beloved?"

"Platonically we did!"

Okay, ouch?

Damian stays silent, trying to mask his laughter with fake cries. You feel a pang in your chest, feeling bad for what you said.

Damian doesn't stop with his noise that it starts to feel fake.

You know he couldn't see your deadpan face but he can hear you.

"Are you finished?"

The doors shoot wide open revealing Dick and Jason with their feet up high. Of course they're the ones busting down doors but why?!

At the far back, there was Alfred holding a sign that said—WHAT THE FUCK?

"Say no to teenage pregnancy, say no to teenage pregnancy!" Jason and Dick chant by the door until they walked and surrounded both sides of the bed. They both apprehended you. Dick easily held your hands behind your back with his own and Jason had to pull out ropes to keep Damian contained.

"What is this about?!" Damian tries breaking free.

"Master Dick said something about the curfew of having a girl in your room, Master Damian."

"We weren't even doing anything."

Dick flashes out a big, bright flashlight from his pants. You both look at him confused.

"I saw you both through the blinds. And Damian, your eyes... they never lie." The eldest brother gives him a questionable look.

Through the blinds? Damian's eyes? What is he saying—then the flashlight seemed oddly familiar. Damian figured it out before you.

"I thought it was just a truck."

"You don't know what it is 'til it hits you, kid." Dick smugly grins at him.

"You climbed up until the 3rd floor?"

"That's not the issue here, beloved..."

Damian groans. "I am not that type of guy anyways."

Jason laughs at his younger brother then goes silent in a flash.

"I know what you read." Damian gulps.

"What is it?" You pop in. "No—Todd, wait—"

"Best friends to lovers, 20k words, slow burn, romance, fluff, misunderstandings, light angst, heartbreak, hurt/comfort, and eventual smu—"

"TODD!"

[fancyfeathers]

Love the mother daughter pair, but not gonna lie, fascinated by the thought of bruce blackmailing reader, and then having to properly try and woo her back essentially. If he really wants a seemingly loving family, he has to know he needs to coax his wife and the mother of his daughter into a better mood and viewpoint. No matter how much blackmail he has, she can start gaining just as much now that she's in his life, and I doubt the daughter will start trusting him properly with the tension between him and her mother. How would bruce coax the mother back? And would Talia actually have an easier time establishing a connection? Could see Bruce feeling jealous of Talia if that was the case. Idk just the tangent my mind ran on, even if that's not the case still love the work

Yandere Batfam w/ Wife/Mother!Darling & Daughter/Sister!Darling Masterlist

The blackmail is practically all there is he does that truly hurts him, and that’s only if she does not agree to his proposal when states his intent of gaining custody of their daughter. But after that comes to pass everything would be perfect for a normal couple, news about their engagement spreads like fire, and the wedding will probably be the social event of the century given how they were engaged once before and now it’s back on. The most perfect white wedding and Bruce treating his darling like the perfect husband.

Their daughter does not know the details of what happened, one moment it’s her and her mama having a perfect life together, traveling the world and being each other’s best friend, and then the next all of that is over, her father is back in her mother’s life and now she has siblings and none of them feel like the family she had with her mama, it feels suffocating and her mama doesn’t seem as bright as she once did.She clings to her mama every single day and is only separated when her attention is dragged away forcefully from her daughter and one of her brothers of father comes right to the littlest one’s side.

His wife does not push any of them away, she lets her husband hold her in the morning hours when they have just woken up and press kisses onto her face, she lets Dick call her mom as he runs up to hug her, she lets Jason help her daughter with her homework even though she asked her for help, she lets Tim take her daughter out to the park even if it’s their mother-daughter day they have, or used to have, every week, she lets Damian sit down by her and lay against her while she reads to her daughter. She will never be happy but she will fake it, she does not want to make a scene and have her daughter see and realize something is wrong and do something herself. She wants her daughter to be happy and have a future, go to university, leave Gotham and go back to what is left of the life they had, parents make sacrifices for their children and she is willing to do everything for her. She plays the game of pretend, acts like the perfect wife and mother and stepmother, stays calm and bites back all the internal rage she has building up inside her.

Honestly it is after every she has been through just for her daughter’s sake is when Talia starts to think a bit more highly of her, she understands the strength it takes to make sacrifices for one’s child. She also knows how possessive and protective they all are of her and her daughter, so meeting her discreetly is the best option. Like at a charity gala and someone accidentally spills something on her dress and has to go to the bathroom to clean up and-

“Hello again.”

She nearly screamed when she turned on the bathroom light and saw Talia’s reflection in the mirror. Talia helps her clean up and change into a new dress all while talking to her about what she has found out. She went from viewing her as Bruce’s house pet, because it was clear their marriage was not equal, to seeing a mother who is willing to sacrifice and do whatever it takes to take care of her daughter.

But it is during this the question arises and the answer is terrifying…

“What are you going to do if your daughter is just as trapped as you are? What if all you did for her was in vein?”

“I-I….”

“You are far too soft, you will never get what you desire for your daughter while you stay docile, playing the role of a perfect housewife, a house pet…”

“Talia…”

“I should be off now, but do take care of my Damian, he adores you as his stepmother.”

She leaves her alone in the bathroom and she just cries, feeling like a failure of a mother and she she can barely look her daughter in the eye again.

She just lays awake at night with the thoughts of the life she grew up with, she had a golden childhood and all she wanted was that happiness for her own daughter.

After that there is no chance of anyone winning her over, but she will not act out either, she just feels dead inside, like a complete failure of a mother. Her daughter clearly notices something is wrong and while her mother will stay perfectly compliant, her daughter is a completely different story.

The moment she sees her mom loose that shine in her eyes like she had when raising her on her own she knows this is all of their faults, they took her and her mom away from their life they loved and now there is nothing left of the mother who used to teach her to dance at parties, or attend her piano recitals and sat in the front row to applaud the loudest and despite the busy schedule of meetings she had she never missed one, or when her mom who could not help but boast about her daughter’s latest achievements…

Remember she is still her father’s daughter and has a level of determination that should not be tired under pressure.

[timesadored]

please I'm begging anyone to write this

WARNING: Suicide/self-harm, death, murder(?), idk lol

Lately I got hyper-fixated on a MLP grimdark called Diary of a Time-Looper -- (here's the link to it if y'all wanna read it lol)

NOW HEAR ME OUT

Imagine Batfam x neglected! time-looper reader

the angst it would give omg

All of it would probably play out just like the grimdark with the only differences being that

They're human

Reader would probably find a way to use a laptop as a digital diary instead of an physical diary

Lastly, Reader would also have gotten out of the loop

BACK TO MY IDEA

Reader gets stuck in a time loop, forced to wake up and deal with the same day over and over and over and over and over

It resets and no matter what changes she makes- no one remembers it nor does it stay. just completely resetting once it hits midnight

She would probably accidentally find out a way to keep a digital diary that doesn't reset with the day and logs everything to help keep her sanity

She doesn't know why this started and she has no idea how to end it- Completely and utterly stuck to this day

She would slowly fall into despair- her mind breaking with every reset

Her desperation cause her to try and convince anyone- anything that shes stuck in a time loop

ofc they don't believe her -- I mean you're stuck in a timeloop? Don't make me laugh we would've noticed if we were in one

The Batfam wouldn't notice her sudden change, I mean, they barely know her. shes just the normal one. Alfred might notice but he's busy and she must've been tired or something

The worse part is that this day was quiet, no villains, barely any crime

its just boring

if there was a villain attack maybe she could have stopped it, after all its the same script with the only changes being caused by her

To help herself keep sane, she just does whatever and anything

Using Bruce's money to buy anything

hell at this point she might as well as do drugs, maybe they'll help they don't

Eventually, probably around the 10 year mark of being stuck, an accident would occur

She swears she didn't mean to but she was just over his damn taunting

Something just snapped, she just snapped

It was amazing how easy it was to kill him with him being trained as an assassin guess Ra's Al Ghul and Talia Al Ghul didn't train him that good-

He's alive the next loop, of course

She wasn't surprised, yet she couldn't help the guilt

She hugged him, sobbing apologies and such- how weird it was to Damian

A few loops later she did the same thing, not to Damian, no it was Jason

She almost expected him to stand up again after she shot him

Loop after loop, she accidentally kills each family member

She couldn't help the excuses that left her, after all she never meant to hurt any of them but she's just so done with the same damn script and the same fucking day

Then she just stops leaving her room, after all she couldn't hurt them if she didn't leave

Her desperation of finding a way out carved her inside out

Slicing its name into every fiber in her being

So of course she decides to finally end this loop at the cost of her life

Staring down at the camera while apologizing and explaining why she made this choice its been a year and a half in this loop

She wakes up, same day, same script

So she tries again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and-

Shes completely stuck in this hell

Its almost funny

She now understood the Joker in a way

She understood his insanity

His craze that broke others

Maybe she should try it

just one loop

or two loops

She hates this mansion and she hates these people

She just can't stand them

Its been years in this prison

How unfair

She's killed and destroyed everyone and everything at one point-

She's died in almost every way she could think of

Not because she was suicidal but because she was desperate to end the loop

Her hope with every death that one would eventually take her out for good slowly goes away

So she locks herself in her room, doing nothing because there was nothing at this point

Its a different date

Its actually a different day

So why is it a different day? Why isn't she stuck in a loop?

Why didn't it feel different? It's a different day now

She's free so why doesn't she feel like it

She's free after 20 years of the same day

When she looks in a mirror she doesn't recognize herself

Those wild and crazy eyes, they almost mimic the joker's if he was even more insane

She doesn't know what to do

She doesn't remember how to be sane anymore

She lost herself years ago in that cursed loop

She tries to fix herself, try to act how she thought she would've acted

No one says anything at breakfast yet they noticed how different she was

In their mind she was fine two days ago, so what could've happened when she locked herself in her room yesterday?

She kinda reminds them of the Joker-- Only with those eyes

So the Batfam does what they normally do

Investigate

Tim found it easily, the digital diary

How horrified they were to watch the entries

How with every loop, she changed worse and worse

Actively watching her lose her sanity

Watching her desperation grow more and more just as guilt ate at her

Horrified as she explained to the camera- herself really- how she killed them

How she killed herself

The videos progressing from sobbing apologies to an blank expression

One video catching their eye of her manic giggles and laughs as she describes how she understands the Joker now

Anyways that's all I have so if anyone would like inspo or smth please take it

I'll love to read it

also I will not write this into an actual story as everyone will be out of character cause I suck at personalities lolol

be prepared to see me enter dms, requesting this btw

[necrotic-nephilim]

I think what I love the most about Reverse Robin AU TimJay is the absolute potential for hero worship with Jason toward Tim. In canon we often forget that Tim didn't really care for Jason as Robin, meanwhile as I never shut up about, Jason has been weirdly respecting and obsessed with Tim since finding out about Tim's existence. So if you flip their order, make Tim Red Hood and make Jason Red Robin, there's so much room for hero worship from Jason.

As Robin, Jason has always teetered that edge of being pro-murder or not. Whether you believe he killed Felipe or not, even in his Post-Crisis introduction as Robin, he almost kills Two Face. Those concepts of lethal justice have always been brewing inside him, just reigned in by Bruce. So if you have Robin!Jason witnessing Red Hood!Tim start killing people and quickly making noticeable change in the landscape of gangs in Gotham, Jason would take quick notice. I think Tim as Red Hood would still be lethal, but there'd be a different application than Jason's Red Hood. Heads in duffle bags isn't Tim's style, even if he kills. I think you'd see something much more akin to that time Tim almost killed Boomerang, where it's such an elaborately thought out set up, it realistically doesn't even look like Tim killed anyone. It'd take months for Bruce to connect this string of deaths as anything other than coincidental, let alone link them to Red Hood. And Jason is wickedly smart, even as Robin. Jason, putting those pieces together before Bruce does and witnessing the undeniable positive change for Gotham it's enacting? Robin!Jason would be incredibly drawn in by that, and then even more-so, a Red Robin!Jason who has to grapple with being replaced to make room for the next Robin would I think, in anger, turn to Red Hood. And Tim would push him away at first, his plans don't have room for a scorned teenager who's trying to get back at Bruce and Nightwing!Damian like this- but I think Jason would wear him down. Prove to Tim that Jason can think on his wavelength.

Slightly related, what interests me about Red Hood!Tim is how it'd implicate his closeness to Ra's. Jason is taken into the League by Talia in Lost Days and Ra's doesn't necessarily approve of Jason's presence, especially not of Talia dunking him in the Pit, but Ra's has always canonically been A Little Weird about Tim. I think in a world Tim dies as the second Robin, it would be Ra's who dunks Tim to preserve his mind that Ra's thinks shouldn't be wasted, and you have the potential for 'apprentice of Ra's' Tim wrapped up in it all, even without him experience the Red Robin arc. So when it's Jason as Red Robin, instead of him going to Ra's when he's scorned by the Batfamily, he goes to Tim. The person he once idolized, because I think Tim would've been Jason's Robin. Smart, competent, a strong legacy to live up to. And now he's back, and he's pro-killing, an edge that Jason has always teetered on and would feel even closer to when he's replaced by a young Dick. I think Tim wouldn't ever be able to get rid of Jason.

Then on Tim's side, I think his reaction to being replaced after his death would be a complicated one. Objectively, being the Robin who believes Batman needs a Robin, he'd respect the logic and know Bruce was always going to replace him eventually. But still, there's always going to be that instinctual emotional reaction of betrayal and replacement. I think he'd view Jason at first with anger and distance, but then, seeing Jason as this street kid with begrudging potential, I could see Red Hood!Tim testing Jason. Constantly throwing things at Jason, seeing how he reacts, if he lives up to being Robin. Tim has a need for analyzing people, understanding their strengths and weaknesses. And he seems the Robin mantle very uniquely, he'd need to have it proven to him that Jason can handle it.

So you would have this dynamic of Jason hero worshipping Tim, slowly believing in Tim's methodology. While Tim is at first dismissive of him, but then starts to test him, see what makes this kid tick. And I think the TimJay potential of Jason trying to prove himself to Tim could be Neat.

[crxwn-06]

ASHES AND ECHOES

“ home has become wherever he sleeps safely ”

Damian runs away: Jon is not his, he is not a Wayne, he is not an Al Ghul. In the hope of finding himself in the destruction of the League, he finds instead the latest experiment, the latest innovation: his and Jon’ son. He flees. With the baby. He dies. (Does he?) While his family mourns him, he learns to live again.

or, Damian haunting the narrative for everyone while being a very much alive single father in his lil beach house

2. NIGHTS OF SUGAR

masterlist ;; « prev || next »

To move unnoticed in Gotham was an art.

To move unnoticed while being Damian Wayne — Robin, heir, target — was a near-impossible feat, especially under the surveillance net Barbara and Tim had woven over the city’s veins. Every corner held a camera, every rooftop a listening ear, and every shadow might as well have whispered we see you.

But Damian had trained for ghosts.

His face — sharp with the symmetry of Talia’s bone structure, heavy-lidded with the weight of Bruce’s tired eyes, and marked by a skin tone just dark enough to draw lingering stares from Gotham’s largely pale palette — was hidden beneath a dark hoodie, a low baseball cap, and a black surgical mask.

He’d caught a glimpse of himself in the cracked bus window — barely a silhouette, but even that made him flinch. The cap was old, familiar. He didn’t want to remember where it came from.

He didn’t want to remember Jon’s laugh the day he’d shoved it on Damian’s head after a training match in Metropolis, calling it a “civilian uniform.”

He tugged it lower. Tighter.

It didn’t matter now.

Damian sat at the very back of the bus, knees drawn in, his bag clutched to his chest like a lifeline. Inside were essentials — old forged IDs, his knife, his trusted sword, ration tabs, some cash, a burner phone with no contacts.

No tracker. No signal. No line home.

The city passed by in blurs of orange streetlight and smeared neon. Everything looked washed out by the rain, bleached of color — as if Gotham knew he was leaving, and had already begun to forget him.

He leaned his head against the cold glass, closing his eyes for a moment.

The road to Nanda Parbat was long, yes — but not unknown.

Most would say it took two days at best, cutting across cities and borders with planned routes and clean passports. But Damian wasn’t most. He couldn’t afford clean. He couldn’t afford trails.

So he moved like a rumor. Vanishing from bus terminals just before arrival. Boarding freight trains in the dark. Walking border crossings at night, past old contacts who owed him favors. Changing his name more often than his clothes.

Every step closer to the League felt like moving backwards in time — shedding years, regressing into a version of himself he thought he’d outgrown.

But the silence that surrounded him now was too loud in Gotham.

And in it, he could still hear Bruce’s voice: You’re acting like a League soldier again.

Damian’s hand tightened around the bag strap.

Good, he thought.

Let him believe that. Let him fear it.

Let him understand what it meant to be shaped in blood and steel — and still choose something else.

Because that was the point, wasn’t it?

He wasn’t going back to join.

He was going back to finish it.

To burn it from the inside, if he had to.

And when he returned—if he returned—his father would see. Would have no choice but to see.

He wasn’t running back to the League.

He was walking in as the son of both Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul.

And for once in his life, he would decide which name to carry.

But first—

First, he had to disappear.

No great parade or feasts were there to greet him.

No open arms. No warm embraces. Only silence, heavy and stretched across the stone corridors like a shroud. The only sound was the soft echo of his boots against the marble — sharp, deliberate, unhurried.

As Damian passed beneath the vaulted gates of the League’s hidden compound, the ancient doors shut behind him with a low groan, like the jaws of some beast snapping closed.

Still, he walked tall.

His head held high, eyes sharp and cold — the color of winter rivers, steel-gray and merciless. There was no flicker of softness left in them now. The warmth that surfaced around his family — that rare, quiet light that bloomed in Jon’s presence — was buried. Replaced by something harder.

There were whispers behind the columns.

Ghosts in black and crimson, slinking between shadows.

The prince had returned.

He wore his pride like armor — but it was the weight of control that cloaked his shoulders.

Up above, on the second-floor balcony, a figure leaned into the shadows. Cloaked in black, face half-covered, he observed with idle interest — eyes following Damian’s every movement like a predator memorizing the rhythm of prey.

His gaze lingered on the precise movements, the way Damian’s fingers twitched near his belt, the subtle drag of exhaustion behind the perfect posture. He was studying. Measuring. Almost smiling.

A quiet voice reached into the gloom behind him.

«The prince has arrived, Master.»

A placid smile curled his lips.

«Indeed a shame, they let him grow teeth. Makes the game more entertaining.»

He leaned on the railing, shadows dancing across his cheekbones like smoke.

He had a new, interesting toy.

At the top of the stone staircase, bathed in low golden lamplight and a cloud of incense, stood Talia al Ghul.

Her smile had always been a thing of beauty. And fear. And now, as she looked down upon her only son — a man in form, still a child in her eyes — it softened. Slightly.

«My beloved Damian,» she greeted, descending with slow, regal grace. «Welcome home.»

Damian didn’t flinch. Didn’t speak.

But his jaw was tight.

He was led to his old quarters, though they had been altered — modernized, refreshed, as if someone had anticipated his return.

Servants came wordlessly. They brought him garments of green silk, finely cut and embroidered with the sigils of the Demon’s Head. Over this, he donned his trusted black and gold armor, newly polished.

He was bathed, dried, perfumed — the rituals of his childhood repeated in chilling silence.

Gone was the scent of smoke, of Gotham rain, of fried food and Jon’s shampoo lingering on his hoodie.

Now he smelled of foreign incense. Of sacred oils.

Of belonging.

He sat before the mirror, shirtless, while a servant bound golden cuffs around his wrists. Another tucked a ceremonial blade into the sash at his waist.

Damian didn’t look at his reflection. He didn’t need to.

He already knew what they were dressing him as.

A prince.

A weapon.

A legacy in the making.

But not a son.

Not really.

The breeze off the mountains was thin and sharp — colder than he remembered, colder than the last time he’d stood here.

Damian stepped out onto the private balcony of his chamber, now stripped of its Gotham clutter and filled with the ceremonial exactness of League culture. Gold and green drapes shifted gently behind him, perfumed incense trailing from within.

The cold air touched his skin, slid over his collarbone and through the thin silk of his underrobe, cooling the warmth of the oil still resting on his neck and chest.

He breathed in — finally alone.

Or so he thought.

Because the moment he stepped to the carved stone railing, his instincts flared.

A gaze.

Trained. Focused.

His eyes flicked left — fast, subtle.

Across the narrow interior courtyard, above the training square, stood another balcony. Perched in its shadows leaned a figure in League black, one foot propped on the railing, arms crossed casually.

Watching.

Damian didn’t move. Neither did the man.

Their eyes locked — and in that moment, something shifted, quiet and precise as the click of a loaded chamber.

The man straightened, stepping fully into the moonlight.

Tall. Broad-shouldered. Not older by much, but carrying the kind of stillness that only came from years of quiet killing. His jaw was marked by a fading scar. His hair was cut short, dark, pulled back loosely — and his eyes, oddly, were not cold.

Not fully.

More curious.

Amused.

He inclined his head slowly in greeting, almost like a mockery of nobility.

Hashim stood on the stone balcony above the training yard, wrapped in the shadowed folds of night, one foot resting on the ledge, arms loosely crossed. Below, the fortress slumbered beneath the incense-stained wind. His eyes, however, did not.

They were locked.

Fixed across the square.

The door to the opposite balcony had opened moments ago — silent, but not to him. And there he was.

Damian.

Hashim didn’t breathe for a moment.

The prince of the League. The prodigal son. The boy no one expected to return.

He stepped forward, almost in slow motion, bathed in silver light — the moon catching in the soft silk of his inner robe, casting pale gleam against darker skin and the sharp definition of his collarbone. His hair was damp, pushed back carelessly from his face, still heavy from ceremonial oil.

But it was his face that held Hashim still.

It was sharp. Unforgiving in its geometry. The cut of cheekbone and jaw like something sculpted rather than born — too precise for softness, but not without beauty. The kind that bruised.

His mouth — firm and unsmiling — looked carved for silence. His eyes, heavy-lidded but focused, carried a disarming stillness, like he was always waiting to strike. Or flee.

And yet—

Hashim couldn’t look away.

So this was him.

This was the boy the stories were about.

The one who bled kings and defied his birthright. Who vanished and survived and chose to return.

He had expected arrogance. Sharpness. Maybe even a boy pretending at control.

What he hadn’t expected… was elegance.

Not the fragile kind — no. Damian Wayne was elegance forged from fire and pressure, from a lifetime of being watched and tested and shaped. The elegance of someone who carried his body like a blade sheathed in silk.

Hashim tilted his head, gaze trailing without shame. He studied the line of Damian’s exposed throat, the faint movement of breath, the long lashes that shadowed his cheeks when he blinked.

Beautiful, he thought.

But more than that — unreachable.

A thing locked in glass. Unaware that he was art.

When Damian turned and met his gaze — sharp, alert, already assessing — it was like being hit with a current.

Hashim straightened, letting his body shift into casual stance, but there was heat rising behind his ribs. Amusement curled at the corners of his mouth before he could stop it.

He offered a single nod, mock-genteel.

«Enjoying the mountain air, my prince?»

Damian’s reply came flat, poised. «You’ve been watching me since I arrived.»

Truth. No flinch.

Gods, even his voice was something — low and clear, trained not to betray. But it did, just slightly — a grain of fatigue buried beneath the control. A thread of loneliness Hashim hadn’t expected to hear.

«You tend to draw eyes,» he said honestly. «Not many legends walk through the gate unguarded.»

Damian didn’t blink. «I don’t need guards.»

Hashim’s smirk deepened. «Clearly. But even statues get stolen, sometimes.»

A flicker — subtle — passed through Damian’s expression.

Not offense. Not reaction. Just… restraint.

Hashim liked that.

Liked the way Damian didn’t give him anything.

Because it meant earning his attention might matter.

«Do you always loiter in the dark corners of League property?» Damian asked, tone cool as the night.

«Only when something interesting walks back in.»

That earned him a sharper look — not quite anger. Not quite intrigue either.

When the prince finally turned away with a cool remark — «If you’re expecting me to be flattered, I’m not» — and disappeared behind his silk curtains, Hashim let out a slow breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

He chuckled under it. A whisper of a sound.

So. That was him.

Not a soldier. Not a prince. Not even a weapon.

A storm wrapped in silk and gold, walking on bare feet across a cliff’s edge.

And Hashim, he realized, had just been struck by lightning.

The breeze was gone.

So was the gaze.

Damian let the silk curtains fall back in place as he stepped away from the balcony, locking the door with quiet precision. His room smelled like cedar, myrrh, and something fainter — the oils they had used in his bath. The soft rustle of fabric beneath his armor made him feel like a ghost in someone else’s skin.

He hated this place.

No—he hated how easily it still fit. The rhythm, the customs, the cold respect. His body remembered every step. Every ritual. Every formality.

He hadn’t come here to slip back into old habits. He had come to end them.

He unhooked the necklace they’d made him wear — some ceremonial nonsense — and placed it on the table with too much force. His fingers itched for his Gotham clothes. For something real. Something that smelled like sweat and metal and streetlights, not incense and silk.

“I just want him to see I’m not the League’s weapon anymore.”

The thought returned like a heartbeat. Dull. Relentless.

Bruce hadn’t listened. Hadn’t looked at him and seen the difference. Maybe he never had. Maybe Damian had always just been the extension of a sword to him — sharp, useful, dangerous.

Not a son. Never a son.

His jaw clenched. He began pacing, silent on the tile. His mind ran angles, possible next moves. Speak to Talia again. Push harder. Demand to see what project they were hiding — he knew his mother too well. Something had changed here. Something deep in the bones of the League.

I’ll find it. I’ll destroy it. Then I’ll go home.

But even the word home felt… untethered.

Damian stilled.

A sound.

Faint. Echoing.

He turned.

There it was again.

A cry.

—A baby.

Not loud. But unmistakable. Broken. Short.

He was already moving before logic caught up.

The halls were dark. These inner corridors weren’t used by servants or initiates — they ran beneath the old wing of the temple, where the archives and storage were. He didn’t need light. His feet knew the way.

Every step sharpened his focus.

What would a child be doing here? No child but him had ever been raised in this place — and not even he had cried here, not openly. Not safely.

The sound echoed again. Clearer now. Closer.

A breath hitched — not his.

A coo, then a whimper.

Damian’s steps slowed. He pressed himself to the wall, scanning, ears tuned to every heartbeat in the stone.

And then, ahead — down a half-collapsed corridor shrouded in black velvet and dust — he saw it.

A faint glimmer of movement behind a cracked wooden door.

The sound came again.

Closer. Desperate.

A baby. Real.

Alive.

He reached for the hidden dagger at his hip and stepped forward.

Heart thundering. Mouth dry.

Because whatever lay behind that door… wasn’t part of the plan.

And yet—

Something pulled.

A strange, aching gravity in his chest that made no sense, made everything worse.

A baby in the heart of the League.

We’re finally moving in ehehehhe

Taglist: @sparrows4bats @lobdw20 @sleepynagii @linoalwaysknows @mamamoble @blue22roses @srta-saori @remosdeerica @touchofhemlocktea @ashshadows001 @famouscrusadeluminary @shifttoksucks @safia-bachamissimi

[w2soneshots]

Oh Haz -W2S

words: 0.8k+

warnings: angst, commitment issues.

summary: Harry freaks out and bolts when you tell him that you love him, so he has to figure out a way to make it up to you.

notes: hello loves! I have a few requests to write but I thought of this fic all by myself🙊 (for once😅). I hope you enjoy!!💘🫶🏼

"So you told him that you love him and he just... left?" Talia asked in disbelief as we ate lunch. I nodded. "What a prick! Did he say anything?" "No. He stuttered for a second then got up off the bed, grabbed his coat and made a b-line for the front door." I replied. Me and Harry have been seeing each other for almost four months now and I've known that I love him for over a month. I decided to wait a little while because I didn't want him to freak out but it seems I should've waited even longer.

That night, after talking things over with Talia, all I could think about was him. Worried in case I'd completely fucked everything up. Eventually I decided that it wasn't my fault. If he wasn't ready to commit after a whole four months then maybe he didn't like me as much as I thought he did. I just wanted him to text me because I wasn't sure what was going on. The last time I spoke to him was the night he left, I've heard nothing since then.

The next day I got up and got ready for work. I took a shower, brushed my teeth, pinned my hair back, applied a little bit of makeup then got dressed into a matching skirt and blazer suit along with tights and some black heels. After quickly eating some breakfast I grabbed my bag and drove to the building in which I work.

The day dragged on and so I couldn't wait to get home, get into my pyjamas, order a takeout and watch some trashy tv. Once I was finally finished I said good night to my boss and headed home.

My heels clicked on the tiled floor as I walked towards the front of my apartment. My brows furrowed as I noticed something on my doorstep. Once I was a close enough I realised what it was. I picked up the bouquet of white flowers then unlocked my apartment door and went inside.

I set the flowers on my kitchen counter and walked into my bedroom to change into some comfy clothes. Once I was finished I took a closer look at the roses. A note was placed inside. I pulled it out then opened it. The note read: "I'm sorry about the other day. Can I make it up to you with dinner tomorrow night? -Harry x" I smiled. He could've just sent me a text but this was way cuter and meant a lot more.

I sent him a quick message: "thank you for the flowers. Do you wanna meet at our usual spot at 7 ish?" He replied quickly, "yeah, that's perfect. See u then." I set my phone down and enjoyed the rest of my night but not before I called Talia to tell her about what had happened in the past twenty minutes and she also thought that the flowers were adorable.

After getting a good sleep I woke up in a great mood. Thankfully it was also my day off so I went to run some errands before I came back and began getting ready for mine and Harry's date. I took a warm shower, took time to do my hair and makeup then slipped into a cute dress that I had brought earlier that day. Once I was finished I left my apartment and drove to the restaurant me and Harry always go to; since we both love it and it's where we had our first date.

I parked my car then headed inside. I was quickly met with a waitress who took me to a quiet table at the back. Harry hadn't arrived yet so I sat patiently on my phone while I waited.

"Hey." I looked up to see Harry. "Hi." I stood to greet him. We shared a quick hug before both sitting down. "How are you?" He asked. "Good. You?" It was awkward, which is what I expected. "I feel awful, you know- because of the other day. I owe you an explanation." He began seriously. I smiled lightly at him since I could tell he was very nervous.

He took a deep breath. "I uh- my last relationship was really fast and it ended quickly as well. I think I freaked out because I um- I didn't want the same thing to happen with us 'cause... I love you, like a lot." He didn't look me in the eyes until he said the last sentence. My features softened. "Oh Haz, I understand. We can take it as slow as you need. And I'm really relieved that you feel the same." I replied.

The mood changed quickly and we enjoyed our night like nothing had even happened. Harry invited me over to his apartment afterwards and as we lay together on his bed, my head rested on his chest and his fingers gently playing with my hair, I felt so happy.

[tacobacoyeet]

vieille fortune et vieil amour | patrick zweig x reader

thank you to mel, talia, and achilles <3

warnings: angst

listen while you read

The thing about loving you was that it always felt like breathing—effortless, necessary, something Patrick had been doing long before he knew the difference between habit and devotion. You grew up orbiting each other in the kind of world where everything smelled like new leather and old money—his family’s gallery openings, your parents’ lawn parties, summers in the south of France like they were some rite of passage instead of a privilege. It was never spoken aloud, but everyone knew: you and Patrick Zweig were inevitable. Like trust funds. Like heirlooms. Like gold.

He remembers the early years like snapshots: you, in a sundress too nice for the tennis court, calling line faults with a smirk; him, tossing his racket into the grass not out of anger, but because it meant you’d beat him—again. The way you'd share strawberries off silver trays between sets. The hotel suites with two bathrooms, the car service waiting after junior matches, the balcony views of cities you barely registered because you were too busy wrapped around each other. You were the only person who ever teased him for being rich to his face. And he loved you for it.

It wasn’t just love. It was legacy. The kind of relationship that made photographers linger and sponsors lean in. He’d press kisses to the inside of your wrist and joke about buying you a museum one day. You’d roll your eyes and say he could just hang your love notes in the Louvre.

You’re smiling in a museum now—just not with him.

He sees it on your story, muted and fleeting. You, glowing in soft gallery light, hand intertwined with someone else’s, laughing in front of an exhibit he recognizes from a night that ended with your lipstick smeared across his jaw and your heels in his lap. The painting hasn’t changed. But everything else has.

Later, it’s the sound of your laugh in the background of Tashi’s story that undoes him. He’s not watching for you—just swiping absentmindedly between espresso shots and courtside angles—but then there you are. Just a blur at first, a figure in the periphery, wine glass in hand, barefoot on someone’s patio, spinning mid-laugh like you’ve never known heartbreak. The sound hits him before the sight does. That laugh. Full-bodied and reckless. The same one he used to chase across hotel hallways, the one that used to bubble out when he made fun of your terrible backhand.

It’s the kind of laugh that makes him forget, for half a second, that everything is different now. That he hasn’t heard it in person in over a year. That when you laugh like that now, it’s for someone else.

And then—then it all bleeds in. The memory. The weight. That patio looks a lot like the one at Art’s family place in Tuscany, the one you’d spent a week at the summer before things started to rot. He remembers the scent of lemons and woodsmoke, the sting of an early loss still sitting heavy in his chest, the way you came outside in his shirt and handed him a beer like it was medicine. You’d kissed his temple and told him you were proud of him. He hadn’t believed you, but he’d let you say it.

That was the beginning of the end, he realizes now. That summer. The first time he felt like a disappointment not just to the world, but to you.

It got worse after that. Gradually, like a roof leaking in quiet, invisible places. He started missing practices, blaming injuries that didn’t exist, answering your calls with heavy silence. The more you showed up, the more he disappeared—into himself, into resentment, into the thick, choking guilt of having been handed everything and still finding a way to fail. When he cut off his parents, you held him while he cried. When he lost the sponsorship deal, you made spaghetti and kissed his knuckles like they were still lucky. But nothing you did could stop the voice in his head that whispered he was ruining your life by proximity.

He stopped going to Art’s dinners. Said he was tired. Said he had to train. Said whatever he could to avoid seeing the way you beamed when you talked about your work, the way Tashi teased you about buying too many candles, the way his world had once held all of that and was now shrinking, brittle. He watched you grow. He hated himself for resenting it.

Sometimes he wonders if they ever noticed. The slow slipping of him, like a thread unraveling at the hem of something once immaculate. He wonders if Tashi looked at him, once, across a dinner table and saw the weight dragging behind his eyes. If Art ever debated reaching for his arm. If you asked them later—after—whether they saw it coming.

He told you once, in a voice that barely sounded like his own, that he wished you’d stop trying so hard. You looked at him like he’d grown a second head. Said, "Trying is what you do when you love someone."

He didn’t answer. Just stared at the floor, at his worn sneakers, at your trembling hands. That silence was another crack. A hairline fracture that split wide open the night he told you not to come to the Madrid Open. You came anyway. He lost. He blamed you.

You didn’t yell. You didn’t cry. You just looked at him like you didn’t recognize him anymore. Like someone had hollowed him out and left a bitter shell where your boy used to be. And then you walked away—slowly, like you were giving him one last chance to stop you. He didn’t.

He told himself you'd be back. That it was just a break, a cooling-off, that you’d come knocking with your arms crossed and that tired kind of softness you reserved just for him. But the knock never came.

Art sent him a birthday text that year. Said he missed him. Asked if he wanted to come over and watch the Open. Patrick stared at it until the screen dimmed.

A few weeks later, he bumped into Tashi outside a café. She was wearing sunglasses and holding a small bouquet of daisies, the kind you used to keep in the apartment window. She smiled when she saw him, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

"Hey, stranger," she said.

He wanted to ask how you were. Wanted to beg, really. But he just nodded, said he was doing fine. Tashi hesitated—just for a breath—and then told him to take care.

She didn’t mention your name.

He’s parked in the back corner of a motel lot in upstate New York when sleep doesn’t come. It’s late—past midnight—and he’s curled into the backseat of his beat-up white CRV, the same one he’s been driving for years now, the same one with the broken speaker and the tennis bag he never unpacks. The windows are cracked just enough to let the cold in, and he’s lying on his side with his hoodie pulled over his eyes, trying to block out the streetlight buzzing overhead.

There’s a Challenger match in the morning. One he’s already decided he won’t win. He’ll throw it after the first set—just enough to get the appearance fee, just enough to keep moving. The money hits faster if he doesn’t make it too far.

He reaches for his phone like it’s muscle memory. Opens his voicemail. Scrolls past the new one—the professional, clipped one he can’t listen to—and plays the only message he’s never deleted.

Your voice crackles through the speaker, bright and breathless, laughter tucked between words.

“Okay, this is stupid, but I just wanted to say I love you,” you say. There’s music in the background, muffled like you’re in a car. “Also, you left your socks in my bag again. Gross. I’m keeping them.”

He doesn’t smile. But his eyes close.

The message ends, and the car is quiet again. Just the buzz of the streetlamp and the ache in his ribs.

He presses play one more time.

-----

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[owlwithanapple]

Eternal Engagement

Chapter 04

The little flame of awakening

In the early morning, her long brown hair swayed in the wind, her emerald eyes were illuminated by the sun, her cyan dress fluttered in the wind. She stood fearlessly on the edge of a high place, overlooking the scenery of Gotham City from a high place. She was Talia Al Ghul, Damian's biological mother.

"Oh my beloved, oh my son. This is the place you two are protecting, how beautiful and vulgar." She looked at the city with a snake-like smile, her appearance was about to bring you and Damian an unpredictable disaster.

It has been two days since you came to Gotham City and stayed in Wayne manor. The main purpose is to test your superpowers. During that time, Damian kept analyzing various data. You learned from Bruce and Damian that your genes have mutated unknowingly. You are no longer a mortal, but closer to Clark your father and Jon your brother.

Of course, genetic changes are a good thing for you. The conclusion is no longer zero. There is a glimmer of hope that awakening your superpowers is your dream goal. It is not only your body has changed during this period, but also your fiancé Damian Wayne.

For some reason, you are looking forward to the changes between you and him, the distance between you two has shortened. You feel a little more confident for some reason, you come to the living room downstairs with a smile on your face. You see Damian and Bruce are packing their briefcases and preparing to go to Wayne Enterprises for work.

You hurried downstairs, wanting to say something to Damian. He noticed your expression when he was tying his tie. You were smiling, no longer looked inferior. He suppressed his inner excitement, felt proud and happy for you. But he was very arrogant,

he had an attitude of indifference on his face.

"Good morning, Uncle Bruce. Drive carefully. Ah—Damian, um... good morning—" Suddenly, your vision was blocked by a completely black card with Damian Wayne's name and the expiration date on it.

Damn you Damian Wayne, you hope to have any expectations from him. But now treats you in this way, using money to get rid of you?! This guy is so fucking hard to understand, what kind of mentality is he in facing you. He cleared his throat, his tone was a little emotional, as if he was a little nervous. "Good morning, the password is your birthday date."

"Damian, you—" Bruce was stunned. He didn't expect his son to be so stupid to women, especially his own fiancée. He wanted to complain, but Damian's quick interrupted Bruce's words.

"Father, don't be late. There are still a few meetings to attend later." Damian just left this sentence coldly and took out his phone to check his schedule.

His card is still in your hand, just hold it silently without saying a word. You thought something different. On the one hand, you are happy because have the opportunity to awaken superpowers, on the other hand, you think that Damian will change. Your heart seems to be broken, and depression comes.

Bruce’s hand on your shoulder squeezed it gently. He said nothing but gave you a little comfort and encouragement. After letting go, Bruce took out his car keys and briefcase went to the garage leave you two. The ringing of the phone startled you, Damian answer to talk to the person inside.

You stood there, thinking that you might as well go back to the room. It was unsettling to be alone with him, not as easy as Jon to figure out his thoughts. You took the first step to leave, but unexpectedly a hand reached out to touch your head. It was not a mocking act, but a very gentle way to you.

It was Damian, he was busy talking on the phone while stroking your head. You didn't know how to react. When he touched you, your heartbeat suddenly beating faster than usual. After he hung up, he put away the phone, his hand was still stroking, he didn't intend to let go at all.

When you wanted to ask him what was wrong, he interrupted you said, "Smile more, like the smile you just showed me. More, preferably every day."

He left the manor with his briefcase without looking back, you were still holding his card in a daze. Your face was hot and heart beat faster. You have never experienced this phenomenon before, don't know what caused it. Is it Damian's words or the sudden surprise, you have no idea.

"He is so damn hard-mouthed, just tell the truth, my dear wife, you have a beautiful smile, wouldn't that be much easier? Don't you think so? Pipsqueak." Suddenly someone bumped your shoulder with his arm, you heard a swear word and a mocking tone.

You turned your head startled by a tall figure. It was Jason Todd aka Red Hood, also one of Bruce's second adopted sons. He was an anti-hero, with a strong and tall body, a fringe with a poke of white hair, a rebellious personality. He was chewing gum in his mouth, a smile appeared on his face.

"Ah, good morning, Jason. When did you come to the manor?" You asked curiously, but you were actually quite afraid of him. You had seen him and Bruce quarreling too much, he was much taller than you.

"Morning, there are endless fights every day. What about you? Did you sleep well here? It's annoying to get along with that demon kid, right?" The sound of him chewing gum reached your ears, he took out an unopened gum from his pocket, mint flavor.

You were a little confused but still took it. You really not used to getting along with him. Always teased by him in the past, he always stopped by Dick and Alfred. Jason has a completely different personality from your brother Jon. Sometimes wonder how Damian and him can get along under the same roof. You murmured, "Thank you, I slept well. As for me and Damian... Honestly, I know nothing about him."

Jason stared at you, rolled his eyes show his helplessness towards Damian. He glanced at the card in your hand, a bad idea came to him. He poked your shoulder lightly and showed a devilish smile on his face, "How about I take you shopping? Just think of it as going to relax, anyway, he lets you use his card."

In a blink of an eye, Jason brought you to a super high-end shopping place, with all kinds of branded and expensive goods. You followed Jason closely in the unfamiliar environment. In Metropolis, you have never stepped into such a high-end place, and you seem to be out of place in such a place.

Jason bought a few jackets without hesitation, using Damian's credit card. If Damian knew about this, he would be furious, right? Never mind! You shook your head nervously to put worries behind and enjoy the fun of the moment. Suddenly you bumped Jason's back, he was standing outside Victoria Secret.

He pulled you inside, and the female staff inside all paid attention to him. Their reactions were really easy to understand, a handsome tall man, his looks were not inferior to Dick. You followed closely strolled around inside, the female staff recommended to him and took the opportunity to chat him up.

Thought he was going to buy for his girlfriend, but he stopped at the lace underwear set area. He picked up a set and looked at you, "Hey, do you want to buy one? This white lace pure sexy style is suitable for you, definitely make that boy crazy."

Your eyes widened so wide that forgot to blink. You coughed a few times choked on your own saliva. Looking at the white lace underwear set in his hand, it was far different from what you usually wear. You usually wear simple monochrome styles, which made you feel overwhelmed, but your heart was eager to try?

"What are you doing! Why do I have to wear this?!" You were flustered like a silly girl, rejecting Jason's proposal in a staccato tone.

"Don't be shy~ It's necessary for couples to have some fun to enhance their relationship. You don't want Damian to get tired of you and find someone else to marry, right?" Jason smiled with a nonchalant look.

You paused, the second sentence he just said suddenly made your heart little bit hurt. For a moment, something in your mind, you don't want Damian to be bored with you. You are so naive, never seriously thought about marriage and the future. And the biggest problem is you can't figure out Damian's mind.

Falling into confusion, it feels very happy to see your parents' loving appearance. Until your turn, you and Damian seem have a relationship is even more distant than friends. The two of you are tied together by the marriage contract made by your fathers, and Damian has never complained or refused this matter. It's really annoying.

Jason realized that he said the wrong thing when you were quiet. He was also against it at first, why both of you have to force to be together. He took another set of crimson lace underwear set to tease you, trying to make you laugh "Hey, this color is hot~"

You blushed, "Jason idiot!"

He laughed when you running away to the toilet. In fact, you have a worse temper than Jon, but you are definitely excited about this kind of thing. While waiting, he continued to shop inside, inevitably flirting with the two female staff . Suddenly, he thought of a good idea, he took pictures of the two sets of lace underwear just now, sent them to Damian.

JT: Hey, which do you think looks better, the white or the red?

DW: I'm in a meeting, don't ask these tasteless questions.

JT: I'm shopping with your beloved fiancée.

JT: I suggested she buy a set to surprise you.

JT: But she was very shy, blushed and ran away.

DW: What the hell. Damn—

DW: …. The white one suits her very well, convince her to buy it.

JT: I know you like it, work hard and don't fantasize.

As Jason guessed, Damian's taste in women is accurate. When you return to Victoria Secret, he shows an evil smile. He puts away the red set and walks towards you with the white one. After he hands it to you, he pinches your cheek and smiles confidently, "Future sister-in-law, your future husband will definitely like it. I promise."

Suddenly, two female staff come to you, one takes the white set from you, the other with a tape measure to take you to the dressing room. After closing the curtain, she pulls up the tape measure and faces you with a kind smile, "Hello, miss. Just now your friend told me that you want to buy a set to surprise your husband. Let me measure the size for you."

You were shocked. What the hell Jason was talking about! You shook head in panic and explained, "You misunderstood. I didn't mean to-"

The female staff giggled when saw your panicked attitude and said, "You don't need to be shy. It's the wife's responsibility to capture her husband's heart. Add some fun to make your husband feel overwhelmed, the plan will be perfect~"

You blushed even more, you saw this kind of underwear set in your mommy Lois's closet before, and you were always curious in this kind of thing. Many 18+ images involuntarily appeared in your mind. Since you are an adult, you decided to go all out this time. You murmured shyly, "I...have never bought this kind of underwear. Can you recommend it?"

Seeing your determined face, the staff was very excited held the tape measure tightly and said to you, "Then please take off your shirt, the size will be more accurate."

You gritted your teeth shyly did as she asked, taking off your shirt and hanging it aside. She wrapped the tape measure around your chest to measure your size, she giggled, "Oh~ You have beautiful breast, definitely surprise your husband when put it on."

After measuring the size, she asked you to wait in the dressing room. She went outside to get a few sets of underwear for you to try on, including white ones. You untied your underwear and hung it aside, then tried on these lace underwear. Once you tried it, you found that you looked so different now, felt so beautiful. Compared with before, your temperament is so different. Why do you feel so erotic?

You tried on several sets and posed in the dressing room. Jason knew girls would spend a lot of time shopping, so he took the opportunity to wander around a nearby men's boot store to kill time. During that time, you picked out some styles you liked, including sexy ones, then went to the counter to check out.

A woman with long brown hair was also at the counter. You stood next to her waited for the staff to come to check out. Suddenly, the woman with long brown hair turned to you. Her eyes looked very familiar to you, exactly the same as Damian's emerald eyes. She suddenly spoke to bring you back to reality, "You are Damian's fiancée, Y/N Kent. Am I right?"

Since she appeared, the surrounding environment has changed a little. The female staff seemed to disappear, the moment you met her eyes, you felt dizzy. You blinked several times to try to wake yourself up, but you couldn't bear the dizzy feeling. In just a few seconds, you fell asleep and fell into her arms. The last time you saw her, you only saw a wicked smile at her face.

“Damian…” You said his name with your last breath before you passed out into sleep.

Ten minutes later, Jason returned to Victoria Secret. It was quiet all around, without anyone. Realizing something was wrong, he immediately rushed in and opened the dressing room. One was empty, and the other had two female staff collapsed inside. He check their arteries and found that they were still beating, they were just temporarily unconscious.

He couldn't find you anywhere nearby, called your phone but it was an empty number and no one answered. He called dozens of times but the result was zero. He ruffled his hair roughly, "Fuck, Superman definitely kill me!"

At the same time, in Wayne Enterprises, Damian was in the office, taking advantage of his free time to check the transaction records of his account. A closer look showed the transaction records and store names of women's clothing, and the corners of his mouth slightly raised, he was looking forward to you wearing new clothes to show him.

But there is still no transaction record of Victoria Secret. Didn't you buy it? He felt a little disappointed and sighed with his head leaning back in the chair. Once he closed his eyes, he imagined you wearing a sexy lace underwear set. He felt a little excited, especially your graceful figure must be very suitable for wearing it. He muttered, "I really hope she will wear it to seduce me."

Before he indulged in fantasy, he sat up straight in his seat. He covered his forehead and sighed. It was a sin to imagine the sexy picture of his future wife at work. Suddenly he saw a transaction record that made him angry. The card was actually used exclusively by you. Jason dared to abuse his card to buy a jacket. He took a screenshot and asked Bruce to return it later.

At this time, the phone rang, Jason Todd's name was displayed on it. He immediately pressed the answer button ready to start yelling at him, but a very urgent message came from inside, "Hey! Your fiancée is missing!"

Upon hearing this bad news, he opened the map of the tracker to check your location, but you were not wearing the engagement ring, the location remained in Wayne manor. He immediately threw his work aside and hurried out of the office. Suddenly, there was a bang that scared everyone else. It was Bruce who slammed the door walked out with a very serious expression on his face, indicating that he already knew something was wrong. He and Damian looked at each other and nodded, then left Wayne Enterprises at the same time.

After arriving at the batcave, he saw Alfred using the Batcomputer with fingers tapping on the key. Jason stood aside stared at the big screen, not wanting to miss even the slightest clue. Damian took off his suit jacket and threw it on the floor. He walked straight towards Jason and asked him, "Aren't you two shopping together?! How come she is missing?!"

When Jason was about to retort, Bruce stepped in to stopped them. He understood Damian's worries, but arguing now would be useless. He said calmly, "Damian, calm down. The main now is to find Y/N, and arguing is just a waste of time."

Jason and Damian glared at each other, their incompatibility was the common point between the two of them. Until Alfred intervened, the suspicion began. He turned on the surveillance footage of Victoria Secret to show everyone, and there was no trace of you and Jason at all. Jason pointed to the big screen, "During that time, I was hanging out with her inside, and also chatted up two female staff."

"Someone tampered with the surveillance video system, and the target was Y/N." Bruce stepped forward to observe carefully, he noticed that the screen was flashing with chaotic signals.

"Could it be Superman's nemesis? Or-" Jason's guess was interrupted.

"My nemesis of Damian Wayne or Robin." Damian glared at the big screen, a wave of anger hit his heart.

The atmosphere in the Batcave was very heavy, the sudden events were never predicted. The big screen showed other members of the Batfamily, Alfred's fingers were tapping on the keyboard to pass the message as fast as he could. Bruce pinched his nose and walked to the corner pulled out his communicator to contact Clark to inform him of the matter. Jason remained silent after seeing Bruce's serious expression. Damian sat next to Alfred with an extremely angry look and investigated at a lightning speed.

As soon as the call was hung up, Bruce approached Damian. His deep voice was filled with anger, but he told Damian calmly, "Clark is traveling back and forth on the edge of the universe, Jon has a task in Metropolis, but he will come to help us after he has dealt with it."

At this time, the big screen showed Dick's urgent insertion. He was worried when he learned about this, his tone was very serious but calm and rational, "I just contacted Wally and Kory, they will go out as soon as possible to help find people."

The reminder sounded, and Alfred tapped the keyboard with his fingers to switch the screen to Tim's interface and said, "I received the surveillance video that Alfred just sent me. Give me some time, I will restore it to its original state."

A phone ring sounded and echoed in the batcave. Damian took out his phone, the name Lois Lane was displayed on it. Bruce was about to took the phone, but Damian immediately pressed the answer button, "I'm listening."

Lois's voice came from inside. She has always been dissatisfied with Damian's attitude. But this time, for you and Kent's family, she was very worried and wanted to scold Damian to vent her anger, but she said helplessly, "Jon has already told me about it. You are her fiancé, you won't just sit there and do nothing, right?"

"Nonsense." Damian hung up Lois's call without hesitation. In fact, he didn't want to say more because he was panicking. He was afraid that Lois would hear his uneasiness. He didn't want to show his emotional fluctuations. He was fully committed to the process of searching for you. He didn't dare to waste any moment.

After everyone cut off the connection, they began to disperse and take action. Jason put on the Red Hood helmet, left the Batcave rode his motorcycle around Gotham. Bruce and Damian were fully armed into their own equipment. Every minute every second was a critical moment and could not be delayed.

Damian jumped into the batmobile first started the engine immediately and gripped the steering wheel tightly. The engine sound echoed in the Batcave. The exhaust pipe of the Batmobile kept making noises as if it was going to speed. Less than a few seconds after Bruce jumped into the passenger seat, the entrance of the Batmobile opened. Damian's mind was full of your face. He stepped on the accelerator with his right foot and the speed meter automatically rose to the highest. He sped away from the entrance like lightning.

The sound of dripping water echoed, the sound of chains rang one after another. The moment a drop of water fell on your forehead, you woke up. Looking up, everything around you was dark, with only a few torches with green flames on the uneven walls. You moved your body, but the sound of the chains reminded you that you were imprisoned.

As your eyes swept through the darkness, several masked men with blades suddenly appeared, the mysterious aura like a ninja or assassin. You struggled to try to break free from the shackles of imprisonment, but you were unable to move at all, which made you fall into despair. You have superpowers but cannot control them freely. Now you look worse than a caterpillar at the mercy of others, and you will be crushed into meat paste with a pinch.

"Superman's daughter can't even break free from a little thing like a chain. So weak can't even stand a single blow." The sound of high heels clicking rang out in the creepy air, a sarcastic remark came from the depths of darkness. The masked men around you that made you creepy moved without any footsteps and automatically stepped aside to make way, like servants waiting for their masters.

The woman walked out from the darkness, her emerald eyes like Damian were staring at you, her long brown hair, her whole body exuding a charming yet easily lethal smell. You suppressed your fear, your imprisoned hands curled up into fists, you gritted teeth and glared at the woman in front of you, "Who are you? Do I know you?"

"You don't know me? Ah~ Damian and Bruce hid my existence. You are so loved and protected, little princess." She lifted your chin with her index finger, her emerald eyes crawled over your face like scorpion.

"Damian? Bruce? You know them?! Who the hell are you?" You stared at the reflection of you in her emerald eyes.

She pinched your chin pulled you closer to her face, breathing warm air on your cheek. The you in her emerald eyes seemed to indicate that everything about you was imprisoned in her. It was not until she spoke that you woke up from confusion. She responded your answer with a devilish voice in your ear.

"Listen carefully, little princess. Oh~ No, my future daughter-in-law. I am Talia al Ghul, a member of the League of Assassins, Damian's biological mother with the same demon bloodline, and also your future mother-in-law."

Talia al Ghul? Demon bloodline? League of Assassins? Damian's biological mother? What is she talking about? Why have you never heard Damian and Uncle Bruce mention the existence of such a person? They deliberately concealed it? Or you don't need to know about her so they choose not to mention it? You don't understand why she imprisoned you?

"Don't worry, I won't put you to death unless I have to. I just want to meet my future daughter-in-law. Unfortunately, I don't have good tea and comfortable sofas here, only dangerous objects such as swords, please bear with me." She let go of your chin and turned away, and the sound of clattering slowly stopped with her footsteps.

A masked man carried a wooden chair and placed it next to Talia. She sat down and crossed her legs elegantly, not hiding her dangerous behavior at all. In the silent atmosphere, a sound of you cleared your throat, "Then... Ms. Talia, what is it that you can't just come to visit me directly, but instead imprison me in this... dark and mysterious place?"

Her suggestive side and giggles echoed in the darkness. The masked man next to her was completely calm like a statue. She lifted her long brown hair and clasped hands together on her thighs. As soon as she opened her mouth, you knew that her purpose was not as simple as sugar. "Have you ever thought about having child with Damian?"

You choked on your own saliva, cheeks flushed with embarrassment, body trembled, the sound of the chains rose and fell again, you responded with a nervously voice, "What?! Having child with Damian!? What the hell is that!"

Talia's emerald eyes widened in shock, but immediately retracted them and showed her evil side. She chuckled, hinting at mocking you. She cleared her throat and her heels clicked on the ground. The next words she spoke were like an order, "I'll be frank. Bruce took Damian away. Damian himself is the heir of the League of Assassins, but he chose to become Robin and live in Gotham."

She pointed slender index finger at your face speak in a commanding tone, the words she said were difficult for you to understand, "League of Assassins needs a heir with demon bloodline, since Damian doesn't choose us..."

She paused, her eyes never leaving you, then she became ruthless and said her thoughts, "You are his fiancée with superhuman genes. You must give birth to a new and powerful life force for Damian, that is, offspring. The combination of the two of you is exactly what the League needs."

"You-what are you crazy about?! This is ridiculous! This is not your decision!" You can't accept this ridiculous statement. The first thing you do is not to accept it, but to refute her directly.

With a sharp sound, she pulled the sword out of from the masked man's scabbard. Before you can react, she suddenly grabbed your neck tightly like wanting to strangle you. The sharp sword head is about to pierce your skin. Her eyes and clenched teeth are not kidding you. She took a deep breath and the clenched sword stayed on your skin.

"You are such a pure being, not shrouded in darkness, and your body is pure white. Your father Superman betrothed you to Damian, who has demon blood. Bruce, as Damian's father, knows Damian's character very well, but they took the initiative to make a marriage for you two."

She praised how pure you are but made your father and uncle Bruce look so despicable, trying to drag you into the abyss step by step and then buried you with the darkness. Of course, this is not enough to hit your vulnerability, she also wants to manipulate the devil in your heart to control you.

Your inner defenses were completely destroyed by her. If it was really as she said, those absurd facts. Why did daddy and uncle Bruce both approve the engagement without hesitation? Why did Damian accept the engagement silently without any objection? Is Damian's purpose to give the League of Assassins a new offspring as the heir?

Talia showed a smug look, because she felt from your expression that her conspiracy was successful. Your mind began to panic and your breathing became disordered. You kept pulling the chain to try to free yourself, like a beast using all its strength.

You are too helpless, things are going badly and can't find comfort no matter how you seek. Suddenly, a burst of energy explodes in your body and produces a strong resonance. The loud bang bang bang rang out continuously, you’re violently pulled the chain in your right hand to break free from the chains, causing cracks to appear on the uneven wall.

The moment you opened mouth and roared in all directions, the chain in your right hand was completely torn in half by you, the wall nailed with the chain was shattered into a hole by your superpower. In a short moment, your mental system burned like a spark, the superhuman power was about to break through the limit and surge out.

"What are you all still standing there for! Quickly release large amount of sedative drugs and sleeping gas!" Talia gave an order, everyone except you put on gas masks. In the dim light, a large amount of chemical gas was spilled from an exhaust hole.

The whole place was shrouded in chemical gas pollution, your body was fumigated by the chemical gas and felt very sleepy. The spark that ignited the awakening of superhuman power in your body was extinguished again. A few seconds before you fell into a deep sleep, you whispered, which was your last stubbornness and persistence, like a life-saving straw "Jon... Kon... I'm here..."

After you fell asleep, Talia walked in front of you. She pinched your cheek lifted your face up. After confirming that you fell asleep due to the chemical gas, she breathed a sigh of relief. Things were beyond her expectations. She had been monitoring you for a while there were no signs of awakening, but now there are. What worried her was that if you really woke up and went crazy, the League of Assassins would be smashed into dust by you.

"If she wakes up again, use sedative gas! Don't let her have any ability to move!" Talia's tone was slightly urgent. At her command, the masked men around stood guard at their positions to monitor your every move.

But things always go beyond expectations, your last stubborn call for your lifeline. Conner Kent aka Superboy was on a mission, Tim informed him of your disappearance. He quickly solved his mission and immediately flew high into the sky, using super hearing to listen to voices from all over the world.

You called out the names of two people with your last breath, successfully reached Conner's ears. Conner looked in the direction of your call, he clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, the blue veins on his arms were visible to the naked eye, confirming that your call was answered.

"Tim, I heard little princess' voice. The situation is not good, her voice is too fragile." Conner turned on the communicator, which contained the Red Robin logo. He told Tim about the matter through the communicator.

Tim was very calm and focused on restoring the surveillance footage to find clues. His hands kept tapping on the keyboard, making a clicking sound. Finally, he successfully found the missing part of the surveillance footage, which was the footage of you meeting Talia. Suddenly, Conner's call interrupted his thoughts. After listening to Conner's content and coordinate, plus the footage restored by Tim, he was sure to find your location.

Tim spread all the surveillance footage of you meeting Talia in the mall to the heroes who were looking for you. He pressed the communication button to tell them the news he knew, "Everyone, listen up, the location of little princess of the Kent family has been found!"

The heroes who were busy traveling around stopped immediately after receiving Tim's message, including Damian. He immediately stepped on the brakes to stop the Batmobile and responded to Tim, "Where the hell is she!?"

Tim took a deep breath, with a trace of meticulous worry in his voice. After all, Talia is Damian's biological mother, now it is even more difficult to say that his fiancée's disappearance is related to his mother, but he still said bluntly, "The coordinates are in League of Assassins, Superboy has arrived above there."

Damian's pupils dilated, hands trembled slightly, mind was in a mess for a moment, then he began to calm down. But he lost a lot of time. He pounded the steering wheel with his fists and yelled loudly. He didn't suspect his mother at the first time, and wasted time looking for other criminals like an idiot.

"Damian, stop. Now is not the time to lose yourself—" Bruce, who was sitting in the passenger seat, put his hand on Damian's shoulder, his cold tone was a little melancholy, especially related to his ex-lover Talia.

"How do you want me to calm down! I-damn it! Sorry, father..." He shook off his hand was about to roar at Bruce, but he was able to calm down when saw his father's melancholy expression, he lowered his head and leaned on the steering wheel.

"Superboy, we're going there right now, don't act rashly." Bruce pressed the response button on the communicator spoke calmly in a Batman-like tone.

"I can't promise, Batman. Kidnapping my sister is beyond my calm bottom line, whether it's Damian's mother or your ex-lover." At this time, Conner was almost at his limit, his eyes were so red that he was about to launch a heat vision to sweep the place clean just to find your figure.

Conner is not the child born of love between Lois and Clark, nor is he a family member with same bloodline with you and Jon, but a clone of Clark Kent and Lex Luthor. The infinite tolerance and love given by the Kent family made him happy. He cared about all of Kent, you lost confidence and looked very fragile because you did not awaken the superpower, and he could not bear to see you get hurt.

"Kon, trust Batman and Robin. You stand by in the air, don't let your impulse hurt little princess by mistake." Clark's gentle and powerful voice came from the communicator to comfort Conner so that he would not get impulsive.

Conner angrily punched the air and messed up his hair. He lurked in the clouds monitored the League of Assassins' every move below. "Tch. Got it, Superman. Batman, Robin, you two better get here quickly."

"No need to remind me, I've already set off." Damian activated the Batmobile’s rapid acceleration system, the exhaust pipe sprayed strong sparks, the speed meter rose to the limit, and it sped towards the League of Assassins' coordinates.

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Others chapter

@chibiduck

[callsign-dexter]

Love's Wake-Up Call

Request: GREAT NEWS !! Sooo then I'll be the first sending in an idea hehe 🤭🫣 as we all love some angsty shit, I'll think about where she's also a trainer and Tim and her are crushing but he ignores it as he wants to stay professional. But during one dangerous call, she gets there for support and saves his life by taking some bullets and Tim forgets everything professional immediately pleading her to not die until they have a at least one date. Later at the hospital he's there when you wake up and after he lectured you, he finally asks you out?

Pairings: Tim Bradford x Police Officer!Reader

Warnings: angst, fluff

Masterlist

For as long as you could remember you had been in love with Tim Bradford. You two went through the academy together and became great friends. With your friendship came along a major crush on your male friend. Tim would never admit it but he was in love with you too but he pushed his feelings down whereas you tried to hide yours but it was too much so they stayed surfaced. Everyone knew that you both had a crush on each other but Tim was just too stubborn to say anything and you didn't want to get rejected. 

Your alarm is what woke you up early in the morning. You sighed and rolled over and turned it off. You laid there for a few minutes until you got the energy to get up. When you did you went into the bathroom and got in the shower and then brushed your teeth getting ready to start the long shift with Tim. Like him you were a training officer and you loved it and wouldn’t change it for the world. You loved the trainee that you had. He was smart, resourceful, loves the law and follows it, and is easy to get along with. His name was Luke Winters and he has a boyfriend but he is planning on proposing to him they also had a kid together.

When you had finished getting ready and packed a bag with extra clothing you set out to the kitchen and made yourself a cup of coffee, after it was done you put it in a thermos and you were off. You walked out of the house and turned back to lock the door. When you made sure it was locked and secure you walked over to your royal blue Jeep and got in and started it. Your Bluetooth automatically connected to the car and started playing music. You smiled and started your journey to work.

It didn’t take long for you to get to work and when you pulled in you saw Tim’s truck and parked next to it smiling. He must’ve just gotten there because he was getting out while you parked. You quickly killed the engine and got out as well. You grabbed your bag “Good morning.” Tim said as you rounded the front of your Jeep.

“Good morning, Tim.” You said and he smiled and you two walked towards the station. 

“Have a good night?” He asked and you nodded.

“I did nothing special. How about you?” You asked

“It was ok. Have any plans for when you’re off?” He asked and you thought about saying something that involved him but refrained from doing so.

“Nope.” You said and he nodded and then he was opening the door for you and you smiled and walked in. 

“Good morning, Officer Bradford and Officer Y/L/N.” The person at the front desk said and you smiled at her and then walked through the doors towards the locker rooms. 

“You know I was thinking after shift maybe we could go and grab something to eat.” You said nervously and he didn’t reply but, on the inside, he was excited but he was at work so he had to keep it professional.

“We’ll see.” He said and then went into the locker room to change leaving you standing there and you frowned but did the same thing. You were quick to change and head into the briefing room. You saw him sitting there talking with Angela and Talia smiling and laughing and that made you smile but it quickly faded when he looked over at you. You turned your gaze away from him and quickly went and sat down next to Angela instead of next to him and he frowned but you didn’t see it. Sergeant Grey walked in and the day began. The Rookies quickly got with their TOs and then everyone was going to get their bags and guns. 

“Are you ok?” Luke asked and you looked at him.

“Yea, I’m ok. Just didn’t have the best night last night.” You said and he nodded.

“It wasn’t the best for us either. Cody got sick in the middle of the night and it was just a huge mess.” Luke said

“Is he ok? Is Dakota staying with him?” You asked as he loaded the bags and guns into the trunk and then shutting it and then getting into the shop.

“Yes, he has a doctor’s appointment today. So, I hope it is alright that I’m on my phone.” He said looking a little nervous.

“Don’t worry about it. I understand. Family comes first.” You said and he smiled.

“Thank you.” He said and you smiled and nodded at him. 

The morning was nothing interesting or eventful but you got all the calls that you needed Luke to get to get him to pass his training. Before you knew it, it was lunch time. You pulled into the usual hang out place for you guys. You had been coming here for as long as you could remember. You pulled up and killed the engine and then the both of you were getting out. “Hey, Officer Y/L/N!” Nolan said and you smiled.

“Good afternoon, Officer Nolan.” You said “You guys having a good morning?” You asked, he nodded.

“Yea, nothing too interesting. How about you both?” He asked and you nodded.

“Pretty much the same thing.” You said and then you all ordered and waited for your food and it was out in no time. You all grabbed yours and headed to the two tables that everyone sat at. 

“Hey guys.” You said and they smiled. A collective of ‘hey’s were said.

“Hello Officer Y/L/N.” Tim said being professional and you smiled but a pang of sadness went through you but you didn’t let it show. Lunch was uneventful and nothing interesting was talked about. You really just wanted to get back out on the road. You weren’t really paying attention to the topic or what was being said just enough to put your input in. Your mind was mostly on Tim and how you would love to be with him but he doesn’t seem to act like he cares or likes you. A call came in and you answered it.

“Officer Winters! Let’s go!” You yelled out and Luke was up and out of this seat and heading towards you and the shop. You threw away your trash and so did he. What you didn’t see was Tim looking at you with eyes that only screamed love but you didn’t even give him a glance as you pulled out of the parking lot. 

“You love her, don’t you?” Angela asked with a smirk and he looked over at her.

“No.” He said with a higher pitched voice.

“Oh, you do! You can’t deny it.” Talia said and he rolled his eyes and then a call came in and he was quick to jump to it and calling Lucy over and they were off.

“He is so in love.” Angela said and the girls nodded.

“Yes, he is and so is she.” Talia said and they nodded.

“We knew she was in love because she doesn’t hold it back and because we have a discussion about it. He just needs to come to his senses.” Angela said and Talia nodded.

“I have a feeling he will get that chance soon.” Talia said boy did they know she was right.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

While your call was quick and simple you were now driving around looking for anything suspicious. Luke was multitasking looking out and on his phone. “Everything ok?” You asked him and he looked up sheepishly nodded.

“Cody has the flu and a double ear infection.” Luke said

“Oh no. Do you need to go home?” You asked and he shook his head.

“No, I asked Dakota and he said no and to finish up the shift.” He said and you smiled and nodded. It was silent for a few more minutes until the radio went off and it was Tim’s voice.

“7-Adam-19 requesting back up.” Tim said and you nodded at Luke who was looking at you.

“7- Adam-20 responding.” Luke said and you were off to their location. Your lights and sirens were flashing and that helped clear the road and you were there in no time. When Tim heard that you were responding his heart sank but he didn’t let it show he was keeping it professional. 

You got there and quickly parked, shutting the sirens off and both you and Luke were jumping out and heading over to Lucy and Tim. “What’s going on?” You asked, trying not to show how happy you were with standing so close to him.

“We got here about 20 minutes ago due to a call of disturbance and at first everything was going smoothly and then he started to get agitated. He has not barricaded himself in his house and won’t come out.” Lucy said and you nodded.

“What is the plan?” You asked

“Initially we were going to just storm in there but he pulled out a gun and started to become a danger to himself and others around him.” Tim said and you nodded. 

“Have you tried to talk to him again?” You asked and he shook his head.

“No, we figured he wouldn’t want to talk to us.” Lucy said and you nodded.

“Ok, we’ll go try. Maybe a new set of people will help.” You said and they nodded. You and Luke started your way up to the house. You and Luke got up to the door and knocked on the door “Mr. Duncan, I’m Officer Y/L/N and I have Officer Winters with me. Would you please come to the door and we can talk about this?” You asked.

“Are the other officers gone?” He asked and you looked at Luke and he nodded.

“Yes, they are.” You said, you hated lying but it was the only way to hopefully get him out. There was a sound of shouting and things being knocked over and then the door started to unlock and it slowly opened and you took a quick look back at Tim and saw him smile but it was small. “Good afternoon, Mr. Duncan. We were called here for a disturbance.” You said he walked outside “Can you come out further onto the grass?” You asked and he hesitated but nodded and did so. 

“I don't know why you guys are here. I wasn’t even playing my music too loud and the screaming was from a movie.” He said and you nodded trying to keep him on his good side. Nothing seemed dangerous but you knew that could quickly change in a heartbeat. You looked him over and then noticed his bloody knuckles.

“Sir, are you ok? Is someone in the house with you?” You asked and he shook his head getting defensive.

“No, it’s just me. I got mad earlier and punched the wall.” He said but you noticed the scratches on his neck. Just then a woman came running out.

“Help me! He has kidnapped me!” She yelled and before she could get to you, he had grabbed her and brought out a gun putting it at her head. You drew your gun and so did the others. He slowly backed up and that gave you and Luke time to back up until you were with Tim and Lucy. 

“What is your plan?” You asked

“Call for back-up.” Tim said and you nodded and then started for your radio in your car but the sound of a gun went off and you froze. You looked up and saw that Duncan had turned to point the gun at the 4 of you. 

“Don’t you move!” He shouted and you brought your hands up in surrender. You needed to get to the radio. You slowly started to back up again and he sent a warning shot your way but it had grazed you and you hissed and that got Tim’s attention. “Don’t move!” He yelled out.

Tim looked over at you and noticed the blood “Are you ok?” He asked and you nodded.

“Yea, I’m good.” You said and then something clicked in Duncan’s mind and he started to shoot off bullets and that caused you to fire back. Gunfire was becoming more frequent and that was concerning. Shop doors were opened and everyone was ducking behind them. “Are you good?” You asked Tim and he didn’t respond but he stood up and shot off a shot and then ducked down again.

“Yea, I’m good. I’m gonna move to get better access.” He said and you nodded.

“I’m going with you.” You said and he looked at you.

“No.” He said and you looked at him.

“This is not up for discussion.” You said and he groaned but started the move. You kept an eye on Duncan and as you started to move, he saw you and aimed his gun at you and Tim, he was right in the crossfire and you couldn’t have him getting shot. “Tim!” You shouted when you saw Duncan pull the trigger and pushed him out of the way. The bullet connected with your neck and then another shot popped off and it had entered your chest right below your ribcage and you froze. Gun fire ceased and Duncan was taken down and the woman was saved but now you were standing there shell shocked. Tim had gotten up and his eyes widened. 

“Y/N.” He said, stunned and you looked over at him and then your knees buckled. “No no no no.” He said and then moved to grab you as you slowly fell.

“Tim-” You started but he cut you off. 

“Don’t try to talk. Save your energy.” He said and you coughed and some blood came up with it. He reached for his radio with his bloody hand “Shots fired; shots fired. Officer down, I repeat officer down.” He said into his radio. You felt your eyes start to close and he noticed this and put his hand back on the bleeding shoulder wound. “Hey hey keep those eyes open. You can’t die. I still need to take you on our first date.” He said and that would’ve surprised you if you weren’t losing blood and fighting for your life. Lucy and Luke had arrested the man and saved the woman.

 By now more units were arriving and that meant Angela, Jackson, Taila, and Nolan were showing up. They rushed over to you and Tim “What can we do?” Nolan asked.

“Make room for the ambulance and get them over her fast.” Tim said looking at him, he nodded and was off and looked back down at you and noticed your eyes were closed. “Hey, Y/N. Open those eyes for me.” He said and got no response. He could feel your pulse on your neck but it was slow and that worried him. “You can’t do this to me.” He said. 

The ambulance was quick to get there and made their way over to you and got you up on the stretcher and moved to the ambulance. He moved with them and got in and nobody argued with him. Once everyone was in, they were off heading to the hospital. He was beating himself up for hiding his feelings for you and not making them known earlier because now he was here with you as you were fighting for your life. They arrived at the hospital in no time and they were rushing you back and away from him. He went and sat in the waiting room to wait. He doesn’t know how long he was sitting there but Angela, Jackson, Talia, Nolan, Luke, and Lucy all showed up. “Any news?” Lucy asked and he shook his head.

“No.” He said looking down at his bloodied hands, bloodied with your blood.

“How long since they took her back?” Luke worried for his TO and his friend.

“30 minutes.” He said and they nodded and everyone sat down waiting for good news. 14 minutes and Grace was coming out with bloodied scrubs and Tim was the first one up. “How is she?” He asked not to hold back his emotions.

“She’s pulled through.” She said and everyone sighed in relief “However we did lose her 2 times on the operating table but got her back each time. I want to keep her under for a few days to let her rest.” She said and everyone nodded.

“Are we able to see her?” Angela asked and she nodded.

“Right this way.” She said and they followed her. When they got to your room, they could see all the wires connected to you and that you were sleeping. “Anything happens, let me know.” She said and they nodded. Tim was the first one to move and sit down next to you. Wade had also shown up at some point and walked into the room and his heart sank, you were like a daughter to him and you actually cared for him, he hated seeing you like this. Nothing was said between them and that was ok. Although the others wanted to stay, they knew they couldn’t and they went back to work but Tim protested and wasn’t going to leave your side. Wade wasn’t going to fight him on it so he allowed him to stay. When their shift was over Luke had come back with your bag and Tim’s bag. Tim thanked him and they sat there talking for a little bit about you and then Luke had to leave. 

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Tim hated waiting. You shouldn’t be lying there connected to all the wires fighting for your life. If he hadn’t moved then you wouldn’t be in this situation and he hated that. It was leading into day 6 and you had yet to wake up and it was driving him mad. He barely moved, he only moved when he needed to eat, sometimes he didn’t do that unless it was someone bringing it to him, and he only took a shower at the hospital and brushed his teeth there. Grace and Gio were in and out checking on you and your wounds, they had taken you off sedation and now it was up to you. 

10 days and you were still asleep and it was driving Tim mad. He kept thinking about that it was all his fault for moving and not making you stay. He was thinking about how stupid it was that he didn’t tell you how he really felt about you. Really, he was just beating himself up. He needed you to wake up so he could tell you that he was in love with you and that he wanted to be with you and only you.

It was during the night and he was sleeping when you started to wake up. You first opened your eyes and the room was darkened so it was easy on your eyes and then you felt a warm hand in yours and you looked down and saw it was connected to the man you loved, then the pain hit and you tensed up. Tim must’ve felt you tense up because he was jolting awake and scooting his chair back. “Y/N.” He said your name and you were breathing through the pain. After it passed you opened your eyes and looked at him.

“Tim?” You said in a hoarse voice “What?” You said but couldn’t get anything else out.

“You were shot covering me. What were you thinking? I told you not and yet you still did. Do you know how stupid that was? You were shot twice and almost didn’t make it. You know how heartbroken I would’ve been if you hadn’t had made it? I was kneeling there watching the love of my life slowly slipping away from me. You’ve been here for 2 weeks and those 2 weeks have been so painful and nerve wracking for me. If it weren’t for the others bringing food or had brought our bags I wouldn’t have moved from that spot. I was so scared that you weren’t going to make it.” He said coming to the end of his speech. You just stared at him and a smile crept up to your face. “What are you smiling about?” He asked, trying to stay mad.

“You love me?” You asked and he rolled his eyes.

“All of that lecturing and that is what you take away from this?” He asked but an actual smile appeared on his face. “Yes, I love you. As soon as you're out of here and feeling up to it, would you like to go on a date with me?” He asked.

“Yes, I would love that.” You said and smiled and leaned down and kissed your forehead.

“Good.” He said when he pulled away “I’m going to go and get Grace and Gio.” He added and started to get up.

“Oh, and Tim?” You said and that had him stopping and looking at you with a raised eyebrow. “I love you too.” You said and that made him smile and walk back over and kissed you on the lips and you returned it. When he pulled away, he brought his hand gently up to your face and caressed it.

“I love you too. I’ll be right back.” He said and you nodded and he left. You brought your hand up to where his hand was and smiled. You both loved each other and this was going to be a wonderful start to a wonderful relationship and you couldn’t wait and neither could Tim. All it took was for you to get shot, of course that sucked but you got the man you loved and you couldn’t be any happier. 

Tag list:

@kmc1989

@els-marvelvsp

@atarmychick007

@nyx2021

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[phantomchick]

✩ WEEKLY FIC ROUND-UP ✩

Jason Todd/Batfamily/DC Comics

Ye Who Enters Here by Wisetypewriter

Trips to hellish dimension are, well, not routine per say, but they have lost their edges after the tenth Titans mission. Even the invasion that triggered the need for an incursion in the inflamed realms would ultimately another day for Nightwing and his team, if not for the trial. Confess your biggest regret truthfully. Heroes have plenty to regret, but to share it is another matter entirely. And it just so happened that Dick's little brother had joined them for the ride. Or, the Red Hood’s regrets are about death, but not in the way Nightwing hoped.

Field Notes by SalParadiseLost

short stories in a demon au.

One Rule by Wisetypewriter

A promise. An oath. And a threat. Batman does not kill. Nor do his allies. Even if he has to personally ensure that they don't. Or, a dead pimp found in Crime Alley leads to Batman and Ma Gunn meeting again for the first time in years.

If all the soul-and-body scars by GavotteAndGigue

The Bat family is left reeling after Jason succeeds in taking his own life. Bruce struggles through grief as he grapples with more questions than answers. Then, over a year later, Jason is found miraculously alive inside his tomb. But Jason’s mysterious resurrection isn't the simple blessing it appears to be. For Jason, nothing has changed since the day he died for a second time, and he's still hell bent on ending himself for good. Bruce desperately searches for answers as he contends with how to keep his violently suicidal assassin-trained son from taking his own life once more.

Let the Night be Dark for All of Me by GavotteAndGigue

Jason Todd and Talia al Ghul have a complicated relationship, to say the least. They've drifted apart and had little contact ever since Jason's reconciled with the Bats. However, one night after a disagreement with his family, Jason reaches out to Talia as a last resort to help him travel across the globe undetected. Why does Jason trust her even after their history of manipulation and lies? And does Talia still have enough affection in her heart to save Jason's life once more, or will she shepherd him to his doom?

Mine by Covenyt2950

But with all the bad luck he'd been having, he should've known he wasn't ready for the sheer terror that took over his body when the driver's window rolled down, showing the face of one of the most dangerous men in Gotham. Oh shit There it was, Richard Grayson-Wayne. Nightwing. Personal executioner, right-hand man, and dear son of Gotham’s most infamous crime boss: the Bat. Or Jason is a young prostitute who's just trying to take care of his little brother. Until one night he meets one of the Bats and has to struggle to survive and run away with Tim. Or so he thinks.

Flatline by dragonpyre

Jason's an idiot. A fucking idiot. He thought he could take some goons no problem, and now he's stuck on a warehouse floor with next to no heartbeat and his family crying over his "corpse". How the hell is he gonna fix this?

The Extremely True Story of the Titans Tower Attack by Wisetypewriter

Red Hood, evil, evil bastard, decides to murderize Robin. Yeah, right.

Lazy Sunday by foxglovefriar

Shipfic nsfw

Jason Todd does not have a boyfriend. He has a dom, because vulnerability is for chumps and Jason's playing it to win. It doesn't matter that Foley likes picking soft clothes for him, or eating breakfast together, or sharing chores— look, he's only here to get hypnotized straight out of his trauma-induced cycle of self-punishment, okay?? The blow jobs are just necessary to hit that end goal! That's all!

Two Robins in the Hand by MeiliSheep

While on patrol, Jason and Dick are both turned into their 13-year-old selves. To Everyone's surprise, Two Robins get along. Specially when both realize there is something the others aren't telling them. And if Batman doesn't have Robin's back, well, another Robin will just have to do. Specially if the Robins look so alike.

Thunder Screaming in the Sky by Ellegrine

Dick stares at the dirt with horror, the taste of stomach acid thick on his tongue. No, it’s not possible. He’s hearing things. He’s hallucinating. There’s no way in hell that Bruce buried Jason alive.

Kyle Rayner's Complete Guide to getting a Malewife by MeiliSheep

Kyle stumbles his way into getting himself a male wife.

Little bird by ittybittypenguins

During Dick's visit at Jason's apartment, some things are said. All while working together to get past an impossible boss in a level where Jason had been stuck on for weeks now. He didn't expect to have such a genuine good time with the older.

HOPE THE LOVE WE SHARED CAN RESURRECT THE LAST. by orpheusaki

"I would never be mad at you for this," Bruce tells him clearly, leaving no room for misunderstanding, blue eyes sharp and clear as they meet Jason's steadily, "I think you know this Jason, deep down. You know I would never blame you for any of this." Jason's heart is tight, "I'm —" Bruce places both hands on his shoulders, "Don't apologise. Just breathe with me." Jason takes a deep breath in, matching Bruce's unshakeable calmness. It's the first time in a long time that Jason feels like he can actually breathe. (Jason survives Ethiopia and returns home; this is the beginning.)

king of the lost boys by noharlembeat

This fic says Dickjay but nothing happens so you can ignore it and read it as platonic if you want. It's very very good and I love how it handled the ableism angst.

The clock stops and Jason closes his eyes. He wakes up at the manor. ~~~ or: Jason Todd lives, and how that changes things.

and when I wake up, let me be by forgotten_daydreamer

« Jason is used to his body and mind going numb, he’s used to his breath hitching, to his heartbeat slowing down so drastically that he sometimes finds himself sprawled on the freezing tiles, clutching the shirt drenched in cold sweat that’s plastered to his chest, just above his heart, mouth gaping as he regains feeling in his body. “Fine. Just一” he swallows, throat dry, “I’m only staying one night. I’m leaving at dawn.” » Jason reluctantly spends a night at the Manor, omitting some crucial information regarding the Lazarus Pit side effects.

Phone Alarms by quotidian_void

"Just imagine Jason recording Batman angrily yelling "Nightwing!" then setting it as the sound of Dick's phone alarm so in the next morning when it goes off he flips the fuck out"

Naruto

denizens of the sands of time by CherShare

Happy accidents were less rare than they used to be, even if they still had a trend of making things worse before they got better. Gaara would take what he could get.

The Milieu by funkmasterjo

Aka a series of oneshots written after gaiden but before boruto came out, a fun take on a good-at-his-job hokage Naruto.

POST SHIPPUDEN. Set after ch 1 of Naruto Gaiden: The seventh Hokage, though prior knowledge isn't really neccessary. Just some talks. Just life. A milieu.

Harry Potter/HP/Fuck JK Rowling

Letters by Morning Lilies

In the final months of the war, Harry entrusted Ron with a bundle of parchments marked 'just in case'. More than seventeen years later, Teddy accidentally unroots a bit of the past. But once he starts reading, he can't stop.

Cocktail Time by the real snape

Not many people know that Rita Skeeter and Gilderoy Lockhart were flatmates once. He invited her to parties, she Transfigured his clothes, they stole each other's hair products rampantly. And now Rita Skeeter has written the full, true, frank, and delicious account of the years they spent together. Don't miss Rita's Latest Blockbuster!

Geminio by Portus

Have you ever thought "It's kind of strange that such a competent and hyper-vigilant veteran auror went down so quickly offscreen in HP." This fic might help you understand. This story has everything: Mad-eye Moody waking up and murdering his way through death eater after death eater, a time loop, a tragic backstory, a perfect title, it's a self-contained oneshot that does SO MUCH in so little time, incredibly satisfying. The tale of Alastor Moody's last day on earth, from his point of view. Followers of the Dark Lord beware! or Some things never change, no matter a past which no longer sleeps. This is a lesson Alastor Moody must learn first-hand.

If we can't find where we belong, we'll have to make it on our own by Biromantic_Nerd

Neville's shoulders hunch further. It's not just his hands that are shaking now; his entire body trembles. It's not fair. And, when push comes to shove, Harry always has been a Gryffindor through and through. (AKA sometimes it's easier to be compartmentalize your own abuse than someone else's; life isn't fair to Harry but that doesn't mean he'll allow life to be unfair to his friends)

[talooneytoons]

The path wasn't one he had walked in a very long time. His boots echoed in the cavern one after the other. It was a rhythmic tempo, slow and steady like a heartbeat. He hadn't been here since his days with the League of Assassins and as he walked along the stone path he felt something inside of him twist. The memories of the revival filled his mind; the smell of the water wafted down the hall and caused a small hesitation in his step that he caught and forced himself to keep his steady gait.

As he approached the Lazarus pit he dipped down onto one knee, his hand moving to graze the surface of the water. He rubbed his thumb across his fingertips as he considered the way the water seemed to be whispering, calling out to him. It was so audible he almost didn't catch the shift of air behind him.

Almost.

He turned and looked up at an assassin with her sword drawn and pointed at the base of his neck.

"How dare you enter this pit. This belongs to the-" He cut her off, not hiding the annoyance in his voice as he stood.

"The Great Ra's Al Ghul, yeah yeah. I know." He turned and looked past her at the woman in the shadows.

"Talia." He greeted and watched as she stepped from the shadows, an amused smirk on her face.

"Jason. It's been a long time." She said as she walked up to him. Jason nodded in response, keeping an eye on her.

"It has. I had a question for you regarding the pit." He said, wanting to get down to business. Talia hummed and then looked away.

"How has Damian been?" She asked, brushing her fingers along her sleeve, picking at a loose thread. Jason huffed, annoyed with her change of subject but he also knew this was a quid pro quo situation.

"Damian is interning at the hospital. He wants to be a doctor." He explained, his voice tight. "Now, about the pit." He motioned his head to the pool of water glowing sickly green behind him, filling the room with an otherworldly light. Talia nodded and motioned for him to go ahead with his question.

"The pit...it was traumatic, hard to get through. I've been through a lot but I can honestly say I've never been through anything quite as painful and rough as that." He began, his voice quiet and reminiscent. "Does it alter memories?" He asked and Talia paused, crossing her arms with a look of intrigue.

"Memories?" She echoed before she looked at him again, considering his question and predicament.

"The pit restores the individual going inside of it but it always has a cost. Always. For my father it has cost him his humanity. You think it has taken more than this from you?" She asked and Jason paused for a moment before he nodded, deciding to be honest with her. She may not be the best woman he knew...but she had trained him and she had extensive knowledge of the pit itself without him having to reach out to Ra's.

"I have memories of my childhood that are altered. Something in them is wrong." He explained and Talia mulled over his words before she nodded.

"And you want them restored. Normally the price you pay for the Lazarus pit is paid and done for...but you are tenacious and strong. You may have the capabilities to earn back what it took." She mused and Jason had to keep his reaction held back. He wanted to jump at the opportunity, to find out what he had missed but he also wanted to keep Talia an arm's length from his memories and not let her know how desperate he was for them.

Talia turned and walked away, expecting for Jason to follow and he did, keeping up with her pace. She led him to a small room off to the side.

"This will take concentration and control. You will have to dive back into these memories and relive them again. To know what you have lost you must earn each of your memories back. You understand this?" She asked, turning to face him. He nodded and then looked over as a league member carried over a goblet filled with Lazarus water. The idea of having that back in his body almost made him nauseous...but he still took the goblet from Talia.

"All of it." She commanded and Jason drank from the glass. His hands shook as he gulped down the foul tasting liquid until the contents of the cup were empty. He lowered the goblet and tossed it aside before he turned to ask Talia what was next but found that she was gone. The room was now devoid of anyone but himself and a haunting whisper filled the space around him, the Lazarus calling out to him softly.

He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, preparing himself for what was about to come.

....

There was a door, frayed and water damaged that creaked open slightly, a little head peering out of it and into the hallway to watch as a woman walked with movers to put furniture in the small space next door. The small boy that watched caught sight of a worker flirting with the woman but he didn't quite care about that part. No, he was more interested in the girl across the way. She was about his age, skinny and had long brown hair. She was wearing a T-shirt much too big for her and little tennis shoes with the laces undone.

"You starin' at the new neighbors?" Catherine, his mother asked, making him nearly jump out of his skin. He pouted, glaring up as his mother giggled behind her hand.

"Mom!" He fussed, his cheeks red. "I'm not staring." He complained. Catherine chuckled and then ruffled his hair, an affectionate smile on her face.

"Why don't you go say hello?" She asked, urging him to do so. He pouted, not wanting to leave his mother alone for too long. When she was left alone she started acting weird when he came back...but it would be nice to have a friend to play with, he guessed, even if it was a girl.

He opened the door and walked over to the girl, puffing out his chest a little to look braver than he felt.

"Hey! You're moving in next door." He said, crossing his arms. She turned to look up at him and she had some of the prettiest blue eyes he's ever seen...and a butt-ton of freckles across her cheeks.

"Hi! Yeah, we're moving cause it's just me and my mom now. I'm Penelope." She gripped her T-shirt and wrung it between her hands.

Jason gave her a curious look.

"You and your mom? What happened to your dad?" He asked. She made a face and looked down, letting out a small hum of upset.

"Dad got arrested. Mom says it's because he was a bad guy and did bad things..." She explained though Jason could tell she wasn't so sure about that. He nodded anyways, not really caring about her dad either way...even if it sucked. His own dad had taken off not too long ago and hasn't come back since so he understood what missing a dad was like.

"Well, my name is Jason. I'm gonna be your friend from now on, okay?" He stated and she smiled wide.

"Really? Okay!" She jumped up and down, giggling softly.

"Wanna see my room?" She asked and Jason shrugged letting her take his hand and lead him off. They ran through the apartment and into the back bedroom. It had little furniture, almost as little as Jason had. Just a mattress on the floor with no sheets, a blanket and a rickety dresser with a small stack of dirty paper and broken pencils sitting on top. Jason looked it over and realized she didn't have much either and it almost made him feel better about his own situation...almost.

"Kinda sad, kid." He put his hands on his hips, assessing the room. The broken wood panels and water stains on the ceiling.

"Yeah, mom got rid of my stuff when we moved. She said I didn't need it all." She explained with a shrug. "I miss my baby doll, though." She walked over and looked out the window. Jason followed and paused when he saw it led out to the fire escape. The same one his window led to!

"Hey, cool." He opened the window and lifted himself up and over the ledge. Penelope watched him and then stood on her tip toes to look.

"Where are you going?" She asked. Jason waved for her to join but when he realized she couldn't get over on her own he moved to grab her hands and pulled. She slid through the window and fell onto the balcony on her knees. She whined and rubbed them before she looked up and around.

The fire escape was rickety and rusted but it connected the two apartments together. There was a staircase leading down and one leading up for the higher apartment levels. Jason opened his window and urged her over and she did to look inside.

"This is your room? Heck, you don't have much either!" She stated.

"Yeah, whatever." Jason bent down and hoisted her up, catching her off guard. She fell through the window and into his room, tumbling head over ass and face planted on the floor.

"Ow!" She sat up and held her face, tearing up. Jason hopped in behind her and bent down to look her over.

"Sorry." He apologized, grabbing her face to look her over. She sniffled and then calmed herself down enough to let his look at the red mark on her nose. Once she stopped wincing and he had officially declared her "okay", Jason smiled and then motioned to the room.

"Nice, right? Check it out." He motioned around. Penelope looked around the room and noticed the singular mattress, the dingy closet that was mostly empty and the action figure that sat on the dresser. She picked it up and hummed softly, turning it over in her hands.

"Who's this guy?" She asked. Jason walked over and took it.

"This is the coolest hero. His name is Red Ninja cause he's a ninja and he's red." He explained and Penelope nodded, seeing how he could be named as such.

"He looks neat. My favorite hero is Superman!" She smiled. Jason rolled his eyes, letting out a scoff.

"Your favorite is Superman? He's cool, I guess but Batman is cooler. Plus, he lives here in Gotham!"

"Yeah, but I ain't never seen him." She crossed her arms and Jason paused to consider that.

"...Yeah, that's true. I ain't ever seen him neither." He shrugged. "But still. He's cool. Have you seen his sidekick, Robin?" He asked and Penelope bounced on her feet, lighting up.

"Robin is so cool!! I want to be Robin!" She exclaimed and Jason let out a scoff.

"You can't be Robin." He declared and Penelope pouted, crossing her arms.

"Why not?" She asked, leaning over. Jason smirked at her.

"Cause Robin is a boy. Robin can't be a girl." He chuckled as she nudged him.

"Robin so can too be a girl. A girl would make a way better Robin anyways." She pointed at him.

"No, I don't think so. Plus, I've seen you fall like twice and we just met. You'd probably die as Robin." He said, a rather quick assessment but one he was starting to believe whole heartedly. Penelope stuck her tongue out at him and then looked up when she heard her mother calling her.

"Oh, I gotta go." She said quickly, scrambling over to the window. Jason moved with her, helping her up and over the window sill and followed her over to her window.

"Does your mom yell a lot?" He asked, glancing inside her room as her mother shouted again. Penelope hesitated but then nodded, knowing he was going to be hearing a lot of the shouting soon.

"Yeah. She doesn't like waiting." She said and then tried to pull herself through the window. She was halfway there when Jason grabbed her legs and shoved her through the rest of the way, so she didn't have to struggle. She hit the floor again and whined before she stood up to run off. Jason watched her go, smiling now that he had a friend to spend time with in these run down apartments.

She was goofy and clumsy and a little whiney...but he was still excited to have a friend...and for the next few weeks they grew closer. They spent a lot of their time on the fire escape. Jason would meet Penelope there and Penelope would bring some food from the kitchen, especially when Jason's mother had chosen her "medicine" over some food. Jason hated to admit it...but he was thankful. Sometimes the food she brought to the fire escape was the only food he ate that day.

Penelope struggled to open a can of tuna, her tongue sticking out as she twisted the can opener in her hands. Jason watched, already munching on a piece of white bread as he saw her struggling. Her cheeks were red and he thought she looked funny.

"You don't have any muscles." He said, moving to take the can opener and Penelope let him but huffed softly, feeling a little more than embarrassed by the fact that he was right.

"I'm trying." She said and rubbed her cheek. Jason nodded, at least acknowledging the fact that she was trying...and he couldn't complain too much when she brought him food.

Once the tin was open he wrinkled his nose and then moved to half the can with her, putting tuna on some bread with the mayonnaise she brought.

"It's not the best." Penelope admitted, licking her fingers.

"Mom just keeps cheap stuff here. She gets to go out with her dates to eat at restaurants." She looked apologetically and Jason shook his head, not wanting her to worry. He did get a bit annoyed at her mother, though. She was always gone and left Penelope by herself a lot.

At least that meant he could come over and stay inside when his own mother wanted to get high.

As they sat there together, eating the tuna sandwiches they made and letting their feet dangle over the edge of the fire escape Penelope hummed and then looked at Jason.

"I want a dog." She said with a smile and Jason snorted automatically at the ridiculous idea of having a dog.

"We could never afford a dog." He said thoughtfully and Penelope took another small bite.

"When I'm older, I mean. When I have my own house."

Jason looked at her again and then looked away thoughtfully. He hadn't ever really thought about the future. He had always been so focused on surviving through the day that he didn't even realize one day, surely, he'd have a house to himself.

"A dog, huh? I'd want a dog." He said, imagining playing with a dog with a frisbee or throwing a ball around. It sounded fun. Penelope smiled and excitedly kicked her feet.

"Yes! A big dog!" She said excitedly and Jason smirked, feeling a little like indulging in the silliness of the conversation. For no real reason.

"A big one?" He asked.

"Yes! Like a pitbull. They're so cute!" She said and Jason raised an eyebrow.

"Don't they bite?" He asked and Penelope shook her head quickly.

"No, they're gentle. It's all about how they're treated. I got a book from the library." She explained and the paused as she realized she should probably walk there and return it sometime.

"So you want a pitbull." Jason finished his sandwich and sighed, feeling much better with food in his belly for once. Penelope nodded,

"Maybe five." She giggled and Jason snorted, rolling his eyes.

"You can't have five dogs, Penelope!" He laughed when he saw that she was pouting.

"I'm my dream house I can!" She declared and Jason laughed again.

"Okay, okay! You can have five dogs in your dream house. Whatever." He rolled his eyes and then paused when he looked over and saw she was holding out the rest of her sandwich to him. He hesitated but then took it. He didn't want to take food out of her mouth, but...but she did have more than he did inside her apartment, right? Maybe she knew that. Maybe...

Maybe she was just being nice.

He looked at the half eaten sandwich and contemplated that for a moment before he brought it to his lips and ate the rest of it.

For Jason and Penelope, that was life as it simply was. Jason spent a lot of time sitting on the fire escape with Penelope, the both of them eating the little bit of food that her mother kept stocked at the house. Jason started hanging out in the apartment with Penelope, both of them drawing pictures and hiding from the rain.

Penelope hummed as she turned on the radio and Jason moved around the antenna, trying to get a good signal.

"Is the music coming in yet?" He asked, trying to keep an ear out for anything other than static. Penelope sighed and bent down to listen close.

"I don't hear anything. There's some music but not a whole bunch." She muttered right before the music came blaring out and she backed up quickly, rubbing her ear.

"Ow!" She laughed and then looked up at Jason who smiled apologetically and then let go of the antenna carefully and moved next to her.

"Alright!" He grinned and then grabbed her hands and hauled her up to stand. He started dancing with her and she giggled as she moved with him, both of them bouncing gently to the music as the rain fell outside. Penelope was more than content, spinning around with Jason as the music played. He giggled, moving to jump on her mattress and she followed, giggling and cackling loudly as they found a moment of happiness in their otherwise chaotic life.

The fun ended when the sound of the front door opening caught Penelope's attention and she stopped moving, listening to the sound. There were two sets of foot prints and Jason felt her hands tighten on his. He looked down at her, noticing how worried she looked. He gave her hands a gentle squeeze and then moved, walking over to the window and opening it.

"Come on, we can sit outside. The rain won't bug us and if we have to we can go down to Pauli's and maybe find a snack or something." He offered. Penelope nodded and moved with him onto the fire escape, ignoring the rain as it beat down on her head.

She moved to the railing and looked out over the city as Jason peered back inside her room just in time to see the door open and a man step inside. He looked around and then scoffed.

"What a shit hole." He muttered before he glanced back inside the apartment.

"You didn't tell me you had a kid!" He shouted and Jason heard Penelope's mother shout back.

"Yeah but she's always out running around so what's it matter?" She asked. "Come on. Let's have some fun. You just focus on me." She grabbed the man and pulled him back with her. Jason frowned but was glad that she didn't try and find out where Penelope was. He really didn't like that woman.

He turned back to Penelope and walked next to her, taking her hand and offering a small smile. She was his friend and he was gonna protect her, no matter what.

"Come on, let's walk down to Pauli's. I found a five dollar bill the other day and it can buy us a sandwich." He offered. She nodded and followed him down the fire escape and the two eight year olds were off, walking down the streets of Gotham in the rain. It was busy so Penelope held his hand tightly, making sure they didn't get separated.

They walked inside the diner and Jason shook his head when they got in line. Penelope laughed when the water hit her face and then looked up at the menu.

"What kind of sandwich do you want?" She asked. Jason hummed and looked up at the menu, seeing which options were cheapest.

"We can get a drink if we split a ham and cheese." He said and she nodded.

"Okay, sure. What drink?" She walked with him up to the counter. Jason ordered and handed her the cup.

"Fill it up with root beer or something." He said as he paid for the food. Penelope walked off with the cup and stood on her tip toes, filling the cup with the soda. She tasted it before she filled it all the way and scrunched her nose, making a face.

She was gonna complain, but Jason has said root beer so he probably liked it. She filled up the cup, deciding that it wouldn't hurt to just let him have the most of it. She walked over and sat down in a booth and waited for Jason to walk over with the sandwich. While she sat alone for the moment she kicked her feet and looked out the window, watching the rain fall down.

"What's a cute thing like you doing out here all by yourself?" A man across the aisle asked. Penelope blinked and looked up at him, confused.

"What?" She asked and the man leaned closer, repeating himself with his gravely voice.

"You're a cute little thing. You by yourself?" He asked, reaching over and touching her hair, grabbing a strand of it and tugging in what was supposed to be a playful manner. Penelope made a noise and moved her hand to her hair and tried to move away.

"What's the matter? Am I scary or something?" He asked and Penelope shook her head, noticing how his hands gripped the seat tighter when she moved away.

"Hey!" Jason shouted, drawing attention from the diner which made the man back off a bit. The thought of being shouted at by some punk kid made him annoyed, so he sneered at Jason.

"What do you want, pipsqueak?" He asked. Jason sat the sandwich down and then glared up at him.

"I want you to beat it, freak! Leave us alone yah nutjob!" He shouted, making sure everyone heard. The man looked around and then busily got up, muttering about not needing this kind of crap and left the diner. Jason watched him go, huffing with annoyance before he turned to Penelope, who stared at him with wide eyes and pink cheeks.

Jason paused, the look made his tummy flutter and he looked away so it would stop.

"Shut up. Next time don't let guys like that touch you, okay? Push them away or something, or shout real loud." He pushed half the sandwich to her and sat down. She nodded and then smiled, her cheeks still red.

"I won't let them touch me. Thanks for helping me, Jason." She said softly and he took a bite to fill up his belly, hoping it would squash down the butterflies in there.

"Yeah yeah. You're welcome." He mumbled and then watched as she started picking at the bread and glancing out the window again. He followed her gaze and then swallowed his bite.

"What are you looking for?" He asked. Penelope shrugged, taking a second to answer as she picked at her half of the sandwich.

"Wanna go to the library after this?" She asked. Jason paused and then looked at her, curious but found himself nodding. The library was a good place to hide out in. Plenty of books and sometimes they even had movies you could watch...if you weren't too loud.

After they finished eating they navigated the streets again, following the street signs until they reached Gotham public Library. The graffiti on the side and the crumbling bricks made it look rundown but once they were inside they saw it was actually pretty nice.

The librarian gave them a curious look as they entered but they simply waved and made their way over to the book for kids section. Jason looked around for something to read and looked over to see Penelope was already looking at the movies.

"Hey, dummy do you even know how to read?" He asked. Penelope pursed her lips and looked back at him.

"Yes, I do." She said with a roll of her eyes. Jason chuckled and then picked up a book as she picked out a movie.

"Matilda. I used to watch this all the time!" She said, holding up the movie. "It's my favorite. Have you ever seen it?" She asked. Jason shook his head, never really having a vhs player...or a good TV for that matter. Hell, he was pretty sure the TV in his apartment was just for decoration.

"You're gonna love it. It's about a girl who...who she- she lives with her family and they're not really nice. Oh-! There's also this big school with like lots of kids and-" she excitedly babbled, bouncing up and down as she spoke and Jason snorted, watching her.

"Just put it in so we can watch it." He said, urging her to do so. She nodded and then turned to put it into the VHS player, making sure it was rewinded before she hit the play button. She then sat back and watched with excitement and Jason sat on the rocking chair behind her, watching the movie a bit before he moved and lounged a little more relaxedly.

He actually thought the movie was kind of cool but the part he liked the most was when Penelope would laugh at her favorite part and then look back at him to see if he liked it too. He couldn't help but smile at the way she was so excited to see if he was having as good a time as she was.

"You're a dork." He mumbled quietly, to himself mostly. When the movie was over Penelope and Jason read a few books and Penelope ended up falling asleep on the beanbag in the corner. When it was starting to get dark, Jason knew they had to head back home. Gotham was dangerous...but Gotham at night was worse.

He bent down and shook her shoulder. "Hey, come on." He said and then looked up at the librarian who was waiting impatiently for them to leave. When he turned back she had sat up and they clunked their heads together. Penelope made a small noise and clutched her forehead, wincing. Jason did the same and then looked down at her.

"You okay?" He asked and felt a little relieved when she nodded. "You have a hard head." He mumbled and she giggled softly before she stood up and walked with him out of the library.

She held his hand as they walked back down the streets, weaving around the people. It was still rainy out and Jason could feel his shoes getting wet. He was about to complain about it when he felt her hand grip his sleeve and he looked at her before he saw she was pointing down the way. He followed her finger and saw the man from the diner and he frowned, moving his hand to grip hers tightly.

"...Come on." He pulled her along, running down the street and turning into an alleyway. He moved a box, climbed on top and grabbed her hand, hoisting her up.

"Come on, climb over." He grunted as he lifted her and she flipped over the fence and into the trash pile below less than gracefully. Jason pulled himself up next, looking back to see the man rounding the corner to the alley. He stood there, staring at them for a long moment. Jason pulled himself over the fence and took Penelope's hand, pulling her back with him.

The man must have decided that they weren't worth the trouble of running after, but it still didn't stop the chill running down Jason's spine when he saw the knife glinting in the man's hand.

Jason and Penelope eventually got back to their fire escape and opened their respective windows, ready to head to bed.

Penelope paused and looked over at Jason as he climbed inside his window. She thought about how brave he had been the whole day and how much he had helped her out. She hesitated but then opened her mouth.

"Hey, Jason...thanks again!" She said, her cheeks flushing red. Jason looked back at her and felt those butterflies again. He gripped his shirt and then nodded to her, trying to keep his voice level.

"Yeah...sure. No problem. I'll see you tomorrow." He called and she smiled warmly.

"See you tomorrow. Night." She climbed in through her window and landed on the floor with that familiar, face smashing thud. Jason scoffed and then shook his head, trying not to laugh too hard. He moved and closed his window, ready to get some sleep.

[mirrormazeworld]

Silver, The Knight of Dawn and "Sole, Luna, e Talia"

A while ago I came across a tweet on X where the writer was disappointed because Silver's dad has the same face as Silver and accused twst for being lazy (and maybe some of you have been thinking this way as well). But here I have a feeling this is yet another subtle "Easter egg" as tribute to "Sun, Moon and Talia", a literary fairy tale in which it was an inspiration to the original Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault (which later Perrault's version is the main inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty)

From the main story, particularly from Lilia's dialogue when he found and blessed baby Silver, Lilia said "The golden hair that shines like sunlight was caused by the blessings of the day" and Silver's hair turned to be silver colored as if it had been "lit by the moonlight with the night blessing"

"Sun, Moon and Talia" also has a similar synopsis to the Sleeping Beauty we know as this was what inspired the original "Sleeping Beauty"

However, it's widely known that most Disney fairy tales are from folktales all over the world. And those folktales are really dark that Disney must revise them so the animation would be acceptable and safe for children. (Like the Evil Queen in the original Snow White who danced wearing red-hot slippers in the prince's and Snow White's wedding until she dies for example). Sleeping Beauty is without exception, as its darker version, "Sole, Luna e Talia" tells about the "Sleeping Beauty" (Talia) who got r4ped while she was under the curse and gave birth to twins, which she named as Sun and Moon"

And of course twst also knew it wouldn't be appropriate if they wrote book 7 and included something about r4pe somewhere inside of it, so instead of writing the "Sun" and "Moon" as baby twins, they used the same baby (baby Silver) to represent both Sole and Luna with the changing color of his hair, and also purposely make both Silver and Knight of Dawn like twins, with Knight of Dawn represents as the "Sun" and Silver as the "Moon", even Silver's name was inspired from the moonlight itself.

Personally I admire how twst team revised a once inappropriate and dark folktale about a sleeping beauty that was r4ped by a lustful king becomes a story about family bond beyond time and blood ties that can make you cry...and I wish they will continue their work this way and exceed my expectations.

Cr: Screenshot translations by Otome Ayui

[camillomea]

Prt 2

Jason was having a shitty day, a shitty week, a shitty month, and a shitty year. Maybe a shitty year and a half. Yeah, Jason was definitely mourning the loss of his brother, who he could never talk to properly, and he was probably one of the reasons his brother was dead.

***

Barbara was on comms. She was watching the LOA plane from the camera. "Batman, I counted 3 people, but comms can't be infiltrated and the back of the plane doesn't show the inside of any scans. The inside is full of extreme security," he said. Bruce said, "What the hell is Ra's plan this time?" Damian said, "There's been no news since the incident with the league a year ago. Even my mom can't contact them." Cass said, "It's like they're arguing over comms." She was watching the people in the pilot's section of the plane from the roof. Jason said, "There's probably someone or something in the back." Dick said, "It's like they know we're here." Damian said, "Dad, what's the plan?" Bruce said "Let's wait. If they were planning something they would have run away or wouldn't have come so visibly. Besides Damian you would have heard from them too". Damian tried not to notice but breathed a sigh of relief. He landed next to Cass and looked at the people in the pilot section "I know them. Oh you know them too. Pru, Z and Owens" he said. Jason said "Oh fuck those maniacs. What the hell are they doing here" Dick said "Do you know them" Damian said "Yeah. Grandpa trusts them. They are talented and strong. When Grandpa decides to hire someone to protect someone he usually assigns them. They were the ones who protected me when I was little" Jason said "I know Talia trusts them too. But we haven't heard from them in almost a year and a half" Damian said "I'll tell mom" Barbara said "I'll try to contact them. That way we can find out what they want" Bruce said "Okay. Do this" Damian waited without taking his eyes off the plane. He barely blinked. Jason said "They definitely haven't changed much". When the door opened Bruce said "Red Hood come with me we'll find out what they want". *** When Pru got off the plane she saw "No skunk it's been a while" she said. Jason rolled his eyes "Hello to you too Pru. Is there a reason you came without warning?" Z said "Ah we're escorting someone you know the usual stuff" Robin came down next to them "Mom we haven't heard from you for a year and a half. The entire LOA has been on communication lockdown for a year and a half. What's going on" he said. Owens said "Calm down kid. Things got messy". Jason asked "How". The three of them looked at each other. Jason said "Talk". Pru sighed "War. Actually wars. The Loa has been in chaos for the last year and a half" he said. Damian said "WHAT". Jason "What war or wars! Not one?! Where did more than one come from when we didn't know about one? How many" he said angrily. Z said, "Two. But it doesn't matter. Right now, LOA is in post-war recovery mode." He was constantly checking the clock and time. Jason said, "Explain what war!" Owens sighed, "We will. But first, can we focus on the main reason we're here?" Bruce said. "And what's this?" The three of them looked at each other. Owens put his finger on his earpiece and said, "Boss, the sun's completely set. Are you completely ready to leave?" *** When Tim heard Owens's voice, he was completely ready but also nervous. He missed his family, but he also remembered what happened the last time they saw each other. He had a green cloak on. It was a dark green. He was wearing a completely white helmet on his face, it was like a mask on the front. "I'm ready," he said, putting on the hood of the cloak. This was Ra's gift to him, it would protect him to a certain extent if he ever got exposed to the sun. While he was adjusting his cloak, Ra's words before leaving came to mind, "Don't forget to take care of yourself, child. You can always come here. There will always be a home and shelter for you here." Tim believed him. In fact, he knew that it was his home. He knew that he would always be safe there. He had started to hear voices from outside, locks and gears turning. He turned to the creature and took it in his arms. The creature purred. .

***

[sykesandskittles]

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER ONE

Harlow

Sometimes I feel cursed.

Okay, well, not cursed exactly. But I’ve had my share of challenges in the nineteen years I’ve been on this planet. Well-meaning people—usually adults—have always told me to be thankful for my hardships. It makes you stronger. More capable. Independent.

I wish all that were true. Really, the events that have shaped my life just settle like silt inside me, tainting every thought, every action. Until I’m convinced misfortune has been braided into my DNA.

Generational trauma, isn’t that what they call it?

I dig my toes into the wet sand and look out at the Pacific Ocean. It’s hard to feel cursed here, though. Malibu is a magical place, soaked in sunshine, with a surprising small-town feel. But its best quality is how far it is from Fresno. From home. From the events of last year.

The sharp wind whips through my hair and stings my cheeks. My best friend, Talia, and I wandered down to the beach hours ago after we’d unpacked our boxes and set up our dorm rooms.

Talia called me crazy when I waded into the frigid water, dunking my head under the salty waves like some kind of baptism. Maybe it was a type of cleansing. The ghosts of my past washing away with the tide.

If only forgetting were so easy.

“Hey, look what I found!”

I turn to see Talia walk up to me with something cradled in her palm. It’s a piece of green sea glass. “It was probably a beer bottle or something originally.”

Picking it up, I angle it toward the fading sunlight, looking at it from different angles, admiring its beauty. The power of the ocean is wild—transforming an ordinary beer bottle into something so beautiful. I wonder if it has the power to transform me, too. “What are you going to do with it?”

Talia shrugs. “Turn it into a necklace or something, maybe.”

Another gust of ocean Taliaze whips through me, and my teeth start chattering. “It’s almost sunset. We should head back to the residence hall.”

Exeter University West—one of the West Coast's most prestigious colleges—is right on the beach. When Talia and I applied last year, it was a long shot. A pipe dream. We both have decent grades, but nothing spectacular. So, months later, when we were both accepted, it felt like a miracle. Then when I scored a full scholarship, I finally started to believe my luck was changing.

Exeter is the escape I’ve been desperate for. A fresh start.

I look down the length of the beach and see a huge Victorian mansion perched on a cliff, overlooking the ocean. I noticed it when we first got to campus a couple of days ago. It’s hard to miss. The giant Gothic structure is painted a dark, crimson red with navy blue trim, and ornate woodwork that makes it look out of place on a modern college campus. I was probably here first, though, and the university just encroached gradually until the house and grounds were consumed by the sprawling campus.

It’s a creepy-looking house, though. No lie.

“Our residence hall is right on the other side of that weird house,” I say.

“Okay, let’s go,” Talia says, her bottom lip quivering. “I’m turning into a brine-flavored popsicle.”

The sharp wind continues to cut through us as we walk along the sand, getting dark quickly, and we’re two girls walking alone, so I’m on full alert—glancing behind us, my hand resting on the small stun gun tucked into my front pocket.

But the beach is empty—which is surprising, considering the amount of students on campus. It rained a little earlier, and it’s freezing, so maybe that’s why no one is here. But cold or not, there would still be a couple of people out here, at least, right?

“Slow down,” Talia pouts. “Your legs are longer than mine.”

I pause so she can catch up. “Have you noticed there’s no one else out here? That’s weird, right? I mean, it’s cold, but it’s not that cold.”

“There are people out here,” she says, pointing ahead. I squint, and sure enough, there’s a fire burning about half a mile in the distance, on the beach directly below the creepy house. I don’t know how I missed that, but to be fair, the beach isn’t straight—there’s a shrub-capped berm in the way, and the fire is partially hidden behind that.

“Oh, yeah, huh.”

Talia shakes her head and continues walking. “You are so blind. I keep telling you to go to the eye doctor.”

“I’m not blind.”

“Oh, really?” she says. “So when you walked up to that girl back in high school and started telling her off because you thought she was Veronica?”

I frown, trudging after Talia in the sand. Now it’s me trying to keep up with her. “Okay, but in my defense, they could be twins. I’d like to see the DNA report on those two.”

Talia stops and rolls her eyes at me. “The girl you accosted was three inches shorter than Veronica, and has glasses—which you also need.”

I blow out a breath. “Details. Whatever.”

With a scoff, Talia turns back around and we both keep walking. The beach narrows as we approach the fire, so we have to climb over the berm to get to the other side. It’s rough, and the shrubs are spiny, but we manage to make it down the other side.

“I’m remembering why we didn’t come this way originally,” Talia says. “The sidewalk was a lot easier.”

The sidewalk also dips between several university buildings, and in the dark, there’s no way I’m taking that route. I don’t want to say that, though, so I just shrug. “This way is shorter.”

Talia just pushes out a frustrated breath.

The closer we get to the fire, though, it becomes clear that something is sketchy. There are several people, all wearing robes with hoods, gathered in a half-circle around the fire, facing the ocean, chanting something.

Chanting.

What the…?

I reach out and grab Talia, pulling her back into a crouching position. We had to walk up and over, so we’re somewhat concealed by the random tufts of brush, but not entirely. And we’re only about thirty feet away, but thankfully, I don’t think we’ve been seen.

“Holy shit,” Talia whispers.

I blink rapidly to try and see through the murky twilight. There’s one guy, drenched, and completely naked, cupping his family jewels, shivering in front of the cloaked group.

“What are they doing?” I ask my tone low.

“It could be a frat, but the robes are weird. I think this is the Society of the Burning Crown,” Talia says with a note of awe in her voice.

I swallow. “What is that? Please tell me it’s a chess club or something.”

“Does this look like a chess club?” Talia hisses. She grabs my hand and pulls me forward, but I dig my heels into the sand. “Come on, we need to get closer.”

Closer? Is she insane? “Oh, fuck, no. Whatever this is, I don’t want anything to do with it.”

She manages to drag me several feet forward, but only because fighting her could draw attention to us. So far, we’ve managed to go unnoticed, and I’d like to keep it that way.

We crouch down again, and I try to quiet my breathing. It’s not likely they can hear anything over the roaring ocean, or their weird chanting, but I’m not taking any chances. If I could stop breathing altogether, I would.

Someone from the half-circle approaches the fire. I can’t see their faces, but I’m guessing by the person’s size, and broad shoulders, it’s a guy—and he’s probably the leader. He has a long, metal-looking rod in his hand that he shoves into the fire.

“Okay, we’ve seen enough,” I whisper. “Let’s go.”

Talia just waves me off, her gaze fixed on the odd ritual in front of us. Whatever this is, I get the distinct idea that Talia and I aren’t supposed to be witnessing it. And I would love to honor that.

The chanting continues for a couple of minutes, then Lead Guy approaches Naked Guy and says something to him that I can’t hear. Whatever he says is swallowed by the sound of the roaring ocean.

In response to what was said, Naked Guy nods once, then turns to face the ocean, and falls to his knees. His shoulders curl forward, exposing the length of his spine, and I watch as his thin frame vibrates violently against the cold.

Lead Guy takes another step forward, his hand jutting out like a surgeon silently requesting his scalpel. Someone from the circle removes the rod from the fire and places it in Lead Guy’s outstretched hand.

My breath is held, my gaze cemented to the scene as I watch Lead Guy pull his arm back—almost like he’s doing it in slow motion. Is he going to hit the other guy with that rod? Is this actually happening right in front of me?

As Lead Guy’s arm juts forward, and the tip of the rod makes contact, Naked Guy screams out in pain, the sound echoing off the cliffs surrounding us. He’s being branded. The barbaric act is so shocking and so unexpected, that a scream is ripped from my own throat, and I lurch forward.

“Shit, Harlow!” Talia hisses, pulling me back.

I shove my hand over my mouth to silence the whimper that bubbles up from my throat. It’s too late. They see us. Every hooded figure is turned toward Talia and me, and their leader—God help us—is already crossing the sand, closing the distance between us…

HIS EYES ARE A COLD, Dark Brown. That’s the first thing I notice as the leader of this group stalks toward us, shadows from the moon playing across his masked face, half-hidden under the hood of his robe.

Intensity radiates off this guy, his large body moving with confidence across the sand. When he stops right in front of us, I gulp. He looks like a bouncer, ready to toss us out of a club.

Talia and I are standing side-by-side, but when he speaks, he looks directly at me. “Leave. Now.” His voice is muffled by the mask, but it's deep and harsh, and sends a shiver of fear down my spine. “Go back the way you came.”

I’m already half-turned, opening my mouth to tell him, “Yup, no problem, we’re already gone,” when Talia grabs my wrist, stopping me.

“Hold on,” Talia says, looking over his shoulder at the other robed figures. “What are you guys doing out here?”

The guy’s jaw clenches tightly as he drags his gaze away from me and settles on Talia. Behind the mask, his eyes narrow, and if we needed evidence that we don’t belong here, there it is. Right there. That deadly stare.

“Talia,” I say, practically pleading. “Let’s go.”

She doesn’t hear me, or she’s deliberately ignoring me. Either way, she steps up to Lead Guy. “If you don’t want people watching you, then you shouldn’t be doing this—” She waves wildly at the scene in front of us. “–out in public.”

“This is a private beach,” he answers through gritted teeth. “And you aren’t welcome here.”

I grab Talia's elbow firmly and dare a glance at Lead Guy. “We’re leaving.”

I don’t love the idea of taking the sidewalk all the way back to our residence hall, but it’s either that or walk straight through this creepy-ass ritual. Mmm, no thanks. Hard pass.

Talia struggles against me, but I manage to keep my grip. “You can’t tell us what to do!” she practically yells at the guy. “We’re just walking along the beach. You’re the ones doing sketchy shit.”

Oh, damn. He inadvertently triggered Talia's defiance. I’ve known her since middle school, and she’s always been strong-willed, even to her own detriment. Tell her not to jump off the bridge, and she’s going to do it just to prove she can.

Right now, though, my job is to make sure we don’t end up as the topic of a true crime episode.

“Talia,” I say firmly, yanking her in the direction we just came. She digs her heels in, but I manage to move her a little—enough to encourage me to keep pulling. “Let’s leave the nice Jedis alone.”

I hear the stranger grunt as we walk away, and I feel the weight of his gaze pressing on me until Talia and I reach the top of the berm. I release Talia and quickly make my way down the other side of the small hill, then head up the beach, toward the sidewalk. It’s a steep climb, but I make it in record time, Talia trailing behind me.

“Slow down,” she says, annoyed.

I shake my head and pick up my pace. “We shouldn’t have seen that,” I say.

“Oh, who cares, Harlow? They shouldn’t have been out in the open if whatever they’re doing is such a secret.”

I stop abruptly and turn to face her. “The beach is empty.”

I’d noticed that earlier, but I’d assumed it had something to do with the rain. Now, I wonder if people had gotten the memo that something was going down tonight, and had deliberately stayed off the beach.

Lord.

We stumbled onto something we weren’t supposed to see, and I can't help but wonder what the repercussions of that might be. None, I hope. We left, and hopefully, that’s the end of it.

But ever since the incident last year, my mind has been stuck in survival mode. It feels like everything and everyone is a potential threat. So I doubt I’ll stop worrying about this whole thing anytime soon.

It’s taken a mountain of therapy just to get me to this point–willing to leave my hometown and start over somewhere new. And, honestly, if it weren’t for Talia, that never would have happened. In my darkest moments, she was there, guiding me and encouraging me. She’s the one person in my life I can rely on.

But her impulsivity can get her into trouble, and I feel like I’m always trying to rein her in. Even when we were kids, I was saving her from herself. Trying to get her to think before she tumbled right off that proverbial bridge.

“You have to admit, that was amazing!” Talia says, clapping her hands excitedly. “Shit. I never thought we’d get to see something like that.”

I keep walking. The faster we get to the residence hall and off this dark sidewalk, the better. “A guy was getting branded. What’s amazing about that?”

“I’m pretty sure we just witnessed the initiation ceremony for the Society of the Burning Crown.” She’s walking behind me, and I don’t need to see her face to know she has a smile stretched across her face. I can hear it in her voice. “No one gets to see that. Unless you’re a member, obviously.”

I stop and turn around to face her. “That—what we just saw—was super shady. Branding, violence, anything like that is strictly against the university’s policy.”

She looks lost. “Okay, and? What does that have to do with us?”

“Are they going to be worried we’ll tell someone about it?”

Talia snorts. “You’re afraid they’re going to come after us? They aren’t the mafia, Harlow. They don’t give a shit about us.”

Secret societies are like cults in my mind—and cults can do some pretty crazy shit to keep their secrets hidden. I should know—my mom has been in a cult for the last eight years. She joined when I was eleven—just skipped right over to Florida, leaving me to live with my grandmother. That’s the kind of power these types of groups wield.

Talia grabs me. “Harlow, you’ve got to stop worrying so much.” I sigh. “I’m trying, but it’s not easy.”

Her expression softens. “I know, but everything is going to be fine. How were we supposed to know, right? We were just—” She motions casually “–walking along the beach.”

“Yeah. You’re right.”

But as we walk back to the residence hall, an uneasy feeling gathers in my stomach. The whole idea behind coming to ExU was to blend in. Start over. Stay away from drama. Classes haven’t even started yet, and trouble has already rooted me out.

We get to the building fine—thank God—and I swipe my key card. I’m on the second floor, and Talia is on the third, so we part ways on the second-floor landing.

“See you tomorrow!” Talia calls out, walking up that last set of stairs to her floor. “And stop worrying!”

I just roll my eyes and open the door that leads to my floor. It’s going to be tough to fall asleep tonight—but not because I’m worrying. I know the second I lay my head down to sleep, all I’m going to see in my mind’s eye are a pair of electric brown eyes…

The next morning, I’m barely awake when my roommate, Emily, taps me on the shoulder. “Um, Harlow. Are you awake?”

My eyes are practically sealed shut—how could I be awake? Moaning, I roll over onto my side and face the wall. “No,” I say, pushing my voice through the gravel in my throat.

Last night, just as I predicted, I got zero sleep. As I lay in bed, staring up at the dark ceiling, last night’s events were on repeat inside my head.

Was there something I could have done differently? Inside the safety of my thoughts, I’m always braver than I was out there on the sand—and I say something snarky and clever back to Lead Guy. It’s different every time, but he’s always taken aback by my clever response.

I finally fell asleep around five, just as sunlight started bleeding into the night sky.

But my roomie is an early riser—or so she told me yesterday. And that obviously still holds, even though classes don’t officially start for another two days.

“Okay, well, there’s a note or something here for you. I’ll just put it on your nightstand.”

A note?

I wonder if it’s from Talia. Usually, she’d just text me, but if I’m not answering then she might resort to a handwritten note.

The door clicks shut as Emily leaves, and I flip over onto my back, stretching until I feel a pleasant sting spread across my shoulders. Then I blink and pick up my phone. It’s only eight in the morning. My God. Where on earth could Emily possibly be going this early?

Sitting up, I yawn and glance at the note she left on my nightstand. It’s a black envelope with my name scrawled on the back in all caps—not Talia’s swoopy cursive. I open the envelope and pull out a piece of black cardstock. There’s a symbol on the front. It’s a crown, embossed in gold, flames erupting from the tips

.

Oh, shit.

Didn’t Talia say the society we encountered last night was called the Society of the Burning Crown?

I flip the card over.

Preference Ceremony  

Ten O’Clock  

Rush House

Uh.

I immediately text Talia with a photo of the invite, followed by a full screen of question marks.

Talia is in my room within fifteen minutes, sitting on my bed, cross-legged, looking at the invite from every possible angle. “Well, it looks legit,” she says, scratching the gold embossing.

“What’s a Preference Ceremony?” I ask.

Before arriving on campus, Talia did a ton of research about the university—history, culture, clubs, party scene…any information she could get her hands on. Maybe she ran across a website that mentioned it.

“Never heard of it,” she says, tossing the invite onto the bed next to her. She picks up her phone, types something in, then starts scrolling. “There might be something online about it.”

I do my own search on my laptop, but there’s nothing. All I can find on the Burning Crown is general information that’s been posted on a random forum dedicated to secret societies.

“Listen to this,” I say. “The Society of the Burning Crown is a secret society, founded in 1890, on the campus that is known today as Exeter University West. Rush House is the society’s headquarters and sits on the edge of the university’s 124 acres.” I turn my computer, so she can see the photo that’s been inserted between the paragraphs. It’s that creepy Victorian house on the cliff. I pull my computer back and continue reading out loud, “Little is known about the inner workings of the society, but the rumored structure is a larger membership known as the Circle, and a smaller, ruling class, known as the Omen boys. The Omens are the direct descendants of the four founding members.”

Talia scrapes her teeth over her bottom lip, thinking. “Hm. Does it say anything about what a Preference Ceremony is?”

“Nope.”

She lifts her hands, slapping them back down on her knees. “Welp, I suppose we’ll just have to find out then!”

I shake my head. “No way.”

Talia frowns at me, her delicate features scrunched up and contorted. She never really looks ugly, though. She has a pert little nose, high cheekbones, and long, dark eyelashes that are 1000% real. The girls in high school always hated her for that.

She shoves her bottom lip out in a pout. “Oh, come on, why not? It’ll be an adventure.”

“Yesterday, that guy was pissed that we’d stumbled on their…whatever that was. Then this morning, they slid an invite under my door?” I press my lips together. “If that’s not weird, then I don’t know what is.”

“Maybe they just want to make amends,” Talia offers. “You said yourself that they might be afraid we’ll tell someone. So maybe this is their way of, I don’t know, smoothing things over.”

I pick up the envelope that the note came in, reading my name over and over, almost as if I stare at it long enough, it’ll give up its author’s secrets. It just makes me more uneasy, though, if anything.

“How do they even know my name? And why just give me an invite?”

My tone is rising, and Talia must sense how tense I’m getting. She knows the year I’ve had, and how desperately I just want to have a normal freshman experience. Quiet. Boring. No drama.

She reaches over and places a hand on my arm. “Harlow, it’s okay. Societies like this have their hand in everything, and if someone steps foot on their campus, they usually know about it. It’s not personal to you.” She shrugs. “And you probably got the invite because you’re closer to the building entrance. Why bother sending two invites when they know we’re together?”

It’s a paper-thin theory and doesn’t even make sense, but I cling to it because believing there’s a deeper meaning would seriously threaten my mental health. And the whole idea behind starting over is not over-analyzing every little thing. Or so my therapist, Dr. Cunningham, says.

I take a deep breath. “Yeah, okay. Doesn’t matter anyway, because we’re not going.” I snatch the invite up off the bed and rip it in two.

Talia lunges at me, her green eyes wide with horror. “Harlow, what the fuck?” She grabs the two pieces from my hands and tries to fit them back together. “We have to go. No one gets invited to these things. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”

I lean back against my pillows. “You know how I feel about cults, Talia. Don’t ask me to do this.”

“It’s not a cult. It’s a secret society. There’s a big difference.”

I push out a sigh. “That’s disputable.”

I know her, though. If Talia wants to do something, she’ll do it, no matter what I say. And I can’t let her go to something like that alone—it’s way too sketchy.

“Maybe they want to apologize for last night? And if we don’t go, then they might see that as an insult.”

I make a face. “Apologize? The guy from last night didn’t look sorry. He looked pissed.”

“Okay, let’s compromise. We’ll go, see what they want, and if there’s anything shady happening, then we’ll leave. Easy. No stress.”

No stress. I practically snort at that. I’m already stressed.

I think about it for a second, then take the invite from her hands, shoving both pieces into the black envelope. “Fine, we’ll go under two conditions.”

“Okay, shoot,” she says, and I can already see she wants to squeal with excitement.

“One: we find out what they want, then leave.” I hold a finger in the air before she can respond. “Two: if they even hint at trying to recruit us, we bail right then and there.” Talia opens her mouth to argue, but I stop her. “Ah! We leave immediately.”

She deflates a little, but I think she knows this is the only way I’ll do it. And the envelope has my name on it, which gives me a little leverage. She could try to go without me, but there’s a chance they’d turn her away at the door.

Talia leans back. “Fine. Deal.”

I nod, satisfied. But deep down, I have a sinking feeling there’s more to all of this than a simple apology. Something much darker…

[brucestalia]

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Damian has never known his father. His father is a ghost in his mother’s tales, a valiant knight whose name she whispers in fables like a prayer. Once, as a child clinging to her skirts, he believed in them. But belief fades with time, and questions sharpen where faith once dulled their edges.

Now twenty, the young Prince looks back on those stories with wonder and resentment.

What man of honour would leave his wife and son behind? The tales he once cherished now feel like a fragile veil draped over a harsher truth. Perhaps his father fell in battle, or, perhaps, he simply turned his back on them. His mother’s silence speaks volumes, but Damian has learned to stop asking. He has lived long enough to know that answers often come with scars.

He remembers nothing of the man who once held him as an infant, cradling him with arms that should have stayed. His earliest years blur in fragments—a visitor in the palace, unfamiliar, a presence never explained. Those memories have become as distant as a fading star, too far to illuminate the shadows of his understanding.

In their absence, others have filled the void. Jason Todd, the foreigner with a sharp tongue and a heart as fierce as his loyalty, is his brother in all but blood. Silent and watchful Cassandra Cain’s unspoken connection to Jason threads them together – a mystery Damian doesn’t try to unravel. 

Some silences, he knows, are best left undisturbed.

It is on an ordinary night, under the weight of moonlight and unanswered questions, that everything changes. Damian stumbles upon a cloaked figure in his mother’s chambers. The man stands like a shadow carved from the night. Talia is absent, and suspicion flares in Damian’s chest like a blade drawn from its sheath.

Without hesitation, he seizes the intruder and drags him into the court’s empty halls. The throne of Ra’s al Ghul is vacant, a silent witness to the scene. Damian forces the man to his knees, his sword angled for the strike, ready to demand answers.

The great doors creak open, and his mother steps inside. Her face is streaked with tears, mouth agape in horror. Damian falters, his blade lowering. He expects her grief to be for the danger she has narrowly escaped. But she walks past him, her gaze fixed on the man before her.

The cloaked figure rises, his movements deliberate, unhurried. As the heavy fabric falls away, it reveals robes of black and gold, worn with an understated dignity.

Talia’s voice trembles, her hesitation sharper than any sword. “The Bat-Prince,” she says at last. “Bruce Wayne.”

Damian’s world tilts.

“Ah, so, the knight returns?” Prince Dusan's voice is light and laced with mockery, shattering the fragile moment as he strides in, oblivious to the reunion unfolding. Then, mid-step, he freezes, his confidence stilling.

The sword slips from Damian’s grasp, clattering to the floor. He cannot reconcile the ghost of his mother’s stories with the man who stands before him now. His breath catches, his mind racing. This man…was his father?

Bruce steps forward, his eyes filled with something Damian does not yet know how to name. He does not wait for permission, pulling his son into an embrace that feels inevitable. 

The days that follow are a blur of questions and reluctant answers. The truth is heavy, but it settles into the cracks of what was once missing. Together, they return to Bruce’s kingdom—a family pieced together from fragments of time and loss.

In the great hall, the portrait is finally complete.

The Bat-Prince is clad in black and gold. His bearing is strong, his gaze steady. Beside him, Talia sits gracefully on an ornate chair, her hand resting gently upon the bundle in her lap—infant Athanasia, swaddled in soft silks, her peaceful form the embodiment of new beginnings.

To the Bat-Prince’s right is Dick, dressed in blue and silver, his hand lightly placed on Bruce’s shoulder. Jason is behind Richard, attire edged with red, hinting at a fire that still smoulders – though, his stance betrays a rare calm.

Towards the left is Tim, holding a journal close to his side. He dons deep crimson and dark grey, contemplative, eyes forward, as if turned toward the future.

Cassandra stands near Talia, draped in a similar muted black with golden embroidery. Her smile softens the overall formality.

Stephanie Brown is a burst of light. Her golden-blonde hair is styled neatly, and her lilac-toned attire adds a subtle vibrancy to the otherwise stately composition.

Duke’s stance is upright, golden accents speaking of vitality and purpose, the sanguineness of the core.

Finally, Damian stands just before his parents, arms crossed, his expression firm. His place close to Talia and Bruce speaks of a bond deeper than his stoic exterior reveals.

And there, at last, Bruce is no longer a ghost or a myth, but a man who has returned to reclaim what was his.

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