#alfred was probably a young adult and the first one

[voidlesscreator]

Mamma Mia AU but it's Fright Knight this time????

Clockwork had handed over a journal of sorts to Danny out of the blue and tells him that it's the journal that Fright Knight uses when he travels to the mortal realm whenever he is forced to go on 'vacations' by the observers (They need breaks from his existence every now and then).

Danny decides to run all the way to Sam and Tucker to read this book, and the two are all for reading what could possibly be the best or most boring drama of Fright Knight in the human realm.

Cue the everlasting trio going "Honey honey" from Mamma Mia while reading FK's earth diary and find out that he had 3 different human flings in the span of a a few decades.

There are also Polaroid photos of a human disguised FK with 3 very different men, from a few different time periods with dates and names + little messages on the back.

Although 2 names stand out to the trio out of the 3 names, one being that weird magician who's soul is split so much between ghosts that they could be considered Pokemon cards at this point in the Infinite Realms. The other name is one of a certain himbo billionaire of Gotham's butler, though FK affectionately calls him "Alfie" in the journal and on the photos.

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

(I'm just imagining that in his human disguise, FK is like Morticia Addams or a morbid Brucie Wayne but more.)

(And yes I did do the mamma mia thing- They will be reunited at one point and it will end up as a possible triangle or square for a while.)

[nikovraskol]

Yk what would be crazy if past reader (16 year old version of them) got transported to the future in which they’re dead. Like imagine seeing ur kid (that you’ve neglected for so long ) just show up to your doorstep again but it’s the young version of them. Like what would be their reaction? I imagine reader just being so confused bc one minute they were at school and the next they’re being hugged by the batfam.

I love your batfam series and I honestly can’t wait to see more omlllll I love the way this is headed 🫶

thank u for this delicious request.. yall.. i've written soso many drafts for all ur requests but i dont want to overstimulate yall..its important to make sure to go at a pace your partner is comfortable with :(

masterlist

at sixteen, i imagine reader to be very nervous for the future, sixteen is two years from eighteen and i believe that they're scared that once they're a legal adult they'll no longer have any chance to be accepted -- that they'll be too old.

also, i know some goober is gonna ask so let's decide that 21 y/o (name) was able to return their 16 y/o body while 16 y/o kept their body, well, 21 y/o's body was drained of their life force and unlike jason with superboy indirectily healing him.. can we understand what im tryna say

so let's paint a picture, you're casually in school, feeling depressed because when are you not? your teacher drones on in the background as you scribble notes in your book lazily.

you're trying to drown out in your teacher one minute and then the next you're staring at the door to the manor.

oh. okay.

you're understandably a little puzzled but you brush it off, it's not the first time you've disassociated, it hadn't happened in a while but you're under a lot of stress with school and the crippling sorrow threatening to swallow you.

so you open the door, completely unaware you're walking to your doom, you step inside, your head hung low as you morosely walk in, not excited to be back in this manor of gloom and doom.

and then you hear it, a loud, absolutely offended shriek -- to which you don't look, it's not any of your business, they're probably just playing around without you, indulging in their inside jokes.

and then you're embraced, tightly, too tightly.

"what the--" you're.. being hugged? is alfred feeling alright?--

and then you see the jet-black hair you've seen countless times in passing, and then you feel the warmth of his body against yours, and then he looks up at you -- eyes wild and focused on you. only on you.

"what the fuck?" you're genuinely, so unbelievably confused. have you died? is this heaven?

"you're-- you're alive? this is real?" bruce breathes out, your father is looking at you. looking at you like you're his child, your lips tug into a thin line as you watch as the rest of the clowns join the circus.

oooh boyy.

you probably don't even notice the fact that you've switched universes at first.

like, you're so confused but also lavishing in the attention-- i mean, this is what you've wanted your whole life, right?

bruce is hanging off your every word, no longer does he brush you off or ignore you, he stares at you intently -- memorising every part of your face, every twitch of your muscles, every single detail of you, his precious child, alive in the flesh.

dick clings onto you way too much. every waking moment of the day he's by your side, sometimes he'll hug you tight, his hand gently snaking to press against the pulse point on your wrist, his eyes strangely darkened as he feels your pulse thumming against your skin.

jason is similar to dick in this scenario, the guilt from the incident weighing heavy on his mind, he doesn't let you out of his sight, he's always lingering. he's also way more protective in a smothering way, you're cooking? don't be silly, you might cut yourself! you're running around? slow down, you might fall! you're leaving the manor? why? what do you need? don't leave him, please, never again.

tim is a lot more .. atuned to your emotions. he regularly asks how you feel, at first it's more-so because he is truly glad you're back, he wants to make up for the past! but after a while, it gets to a point where it feels like you're being studied. he's just making sure you're not upset, that you're not thinking of leaving, again.

damian is downright terrifying, not in a violent way, but in a way that you're not sure how to react.. i mean, he used to be the one to belittle you the once, seeing him being so.. gentle. it's unnerving! he's almost kind to you? he'll soften his words, urge you to rest, it's .. strange. very strange.

after a while, the attention gets suffocating. very suffocating. you enjoy the attention, in fact, you've never been happier. but since coming home since that one day, you've not had a moments peace.

you wake up, someone's hovering over you. you go to eat, someone's making sure you don't choke. you're going for a walk? no, you're not.

it gets loathsome, you feel like a porcelain doll. you're not allowed any freedom, you don't go to school anymore -- anytime you bring it up you get strange looks.

that's not the only oddity. you feel different, stranger. not only are you taller, but your mind is different, and while buying something from the store, you notice an id. what? an id that says your age is twenty-one.

and another thing, alfred, the man you consider a father, is dead. dead. like, buried in the ground dead.

if you try to bring it up with your family, they share strange looks. they won't tell you, no, they want to keep you happy -- want to ignore the fact that you're not really their y/n, so don't bring it up too often. kay??

[feefivefoe]

Something I think about when it comes to the batfam is what if they remember reader after a long long time? I’m talking 10+ years after leaving the family. Like what would that be like? Reader wouldn’t be a young adult but someone who’s established themselves in a career and most likely moved out of Gotham, got themselves a somewhat better apartment or maybe a small house, maybe gone through therapy and has decided that they are indifferent about the families existence, to the point that reader forgets about them sometimes. Except Jason reader would probably light a candle every birthday and holiday for him

I feel like the angst potential would be like an aged wine. Bruce Wayne forgot about his first born child their entire life, plus 10 years. Maybe the only reason they remember is a Gotham exclusive on the family, a “where are they now?” type story and half the family (Steph, Cas, Damian, Duke) discover reader existed and the other half is reminded of the forgot part of their family. Oh the angst for Jason! His favorite sibling, his friend from before his death, how could he forget them?? How could Bruce forget them??? And oh god it’s been such a long time where are they?? The story said that they couldn’t find a record in Gotham anymore, are they dead? He let them be forgotten, something he couldn’t stand happening to him, and now here he is, perpetuating it. The fight this would cause!! I feel like the fam would turn on Bruce demanding answers that he doesn’t have. Jason goes to readers room and finds nothing. Maybe reader wanted to cover their tracks? Maybe they didn’t want any trace of them in a manor that never cared for them in the first place? Who knows, all the fam knows is that this building feels so much colder now with this revelation.

Meanwhile reader is getting dinner with friends and work colleagues, having a good and fulfilling life, one outside Gotham, outside of the depressing influence of the Wayne’s, rogues, and owls of Gotham (sorry for making this so long!! Hope you’re having a great day!! Love your work!)

No bc how dare you come into my askbox and drop the most beautiful ask I've seen while I'm sick and brain fogged /affectionate

No hate to anybody else who has sent asks, ily all, but this one HIT MY BRAIN SPASMS AKDMELAK-

BECAUSE YOU'RE SO RIGHT???

The longer it goes on, the worse the inevitable realization is for EVERYONE. Including reader. Because while there's no record of them legally, that's just because they're doing too poorly to have records.

Once you leave Gotham and start settling, you have legal documentation that you just need, you know, for life. Your ssn, birth certificate, etc. Documents that Bruce thought he had somewhere, only to find out you had requested them from Alfred when you left home.

Alfred, being the enabler he is and always hoping you'd reconnect with them one day, just gave you legal copies. Or illegal copies that are good enough to pass, idk how that stuff works.

Point is, they can find you.

BUT.

That's after they get past the emotional turmoil that the discovery puts them through. Imagine if one of them is watching the special for laughs, members of the family snickering at how fake and put together they all are on camera, elbowing each other at how prim and proper some of them are.

Then, near the ending, it cuts to a city far away from theirs. Not Bludhaven, which confuses them. The rest of them stayed, at least relatively close. So where-?

"Y/N L/N, formerly known as Y/N Wayne, has not been seen in the public eye for over a decade. While our reporters were unable to make contact, some still can't help but wonder on where this mysterious member of the beloved family-"

*Snap*

That's Jason, snapping the remote in half while staring at the screen.

Where...when...?

Half of them are confused. Three of them are starting to get a dawning realization.

Jason is having probably the biggest traumatic breakdown he's had since coming to terms with his death and resurrection.

Which town was that? Was that their actual home? Is that just stock footage? Did the reporter lie, did they find you? No, they would have shown that. Fucking vultures wouldn't keep the drama to themselves if they had the chance.

Those are thoughts that don't hit until later, honestly. He's too fucking furious to think coherently for a while.

He wants to scream at Bruce, and hit him, and Dick, and Tim, and fuck it, Alfred too a little. (Unfortunately, they probably have lost Alfred by now. The man was already old.)

He wants to both trash and treasure what's left of your room, small enough to make him feel cramped. It's the size of his old apartment bedroom! Fucking moneybags couldn't give his second ever child a better room than this???

There's no diary left behind, or anything that would bring any sense of closure. Actually, the only thing of note is a scattering of ancient newspaper articles badly taped up on the wall, mostly peeling or on the floor by now.

"BATMAN BESTS POLICE ONCE MORE- RIDDLER IN CUSTODY"

"WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE BOY WONDER"

"NO MORE JOKES - CLOWN IN CUSTODY"

"BATMAN'S NEWEST SIDEKICK? ROBIN REPLACED!"

"A NEW HERO? NIGHTWING DEBUTS!"

Them. It's articles about all of them. Their hero exploits, at least. None of them past his...expiration date. It looks like his death is what made you stop idolizing your family so much. Honestly, the paper is old enough to make it hard to read anything but the headlines.

There are a few sticky notes amidst the papers. Clumsy, childlike handwriting.

03/16/XXXX

Richard and Mister Wayne saved people from a bank! Bad guys almost blew em up. That's why they had to miss the concert!

07/30/XXXX

Jason couldn't have dinner because the Joker broke out, and they had to stop him again. Stay in jail! My brother is hungry!!!! >:(

XX/XX/XXXX

I hoped Richard was in town because of my birthday...I guess it was superhero stuff. But Jay remembers! Next year?

XX/XX/XXXX

Not next year :( I made a cake with Alfred instead. Gave some to Jay after he patrolled. Not as good as Alfred's yet, but he still ate it!

Notes you wrote to yourself. To hang up, to show you that even if they aren't there for you, your 'family' is full of good people. That they're doing important stuff, and that's why they can't be there for you.

As a child, you hung up a wall to show yourself why you weren't important. Why you didn't matter.

And Jason breaks.

[thenightwolf51]

So i originally had this idea when i reblogged this post by @saphushia but i wanna just seperate it out as its own little prompt.

A quick context is that Danny seems to be roaming around Gotham like some homeless cryptid, kinda Bus to Nowhere style but with more vigilante interaction and casual offerings of first aid. And the batkids are keeping their adoption bait First Aid Cryptid(tm) secret from Batman.

One set of tags in the reblogs from @little-pondhead caught my attention

I came up with both funny answers and an angsty answer for that "#why?" but here's the angsty one (though i promice i actually envision it to be more hurt/comfort with a lot of family fluff)

Actual Prompt⬇️⬇️

Something happens, maybe a reveal gone wrong, maybe he got capture by the GIW, maybe he lost Jazz and his parents somehow.

Whatever it is, it leaves Danny with a need to escaped to a new dimension which just so happens to end up being the DCU. He winds up in Gotham and is just trying to start over, easier said than done but at there's plenty of heros around so he doesn't need to go ghost and he can still patch up the local vigilantes to feed his obsession. He's just not up to being Phantom yet and he's still recovering from whatever happened in Amity, whether it be mentally or physically.

Plus these vigilantes are kinda fun to mess with. Danny can practically see the gears turning as they try to put together and make sense of his little "lore drops", that Red Robin almost reminds him of Wes in a way.

Its not like he really needs to hide anyways. There's no GIW here, no Anti-Ecto Acts, if it really comes down to it he could probably pass as meta and fall under those protection laws. Judging by Signal, Danny's pretty sure Batman's bluffing on the whole "hating metas" thing anyways.

It takes awhile before Danny actually does meet the big bat himself and the reaction he gets is nothing anyone was expecting.

You see theres one little detail danny couldn't have been warned about, and its that there just so happens to be a version of Jazz here.

Except this Jazz lost her Danny when they were in high school, as in full on dead and gone Danny, no halfas here, the portal simply did not work and it was just regular ole lethal electrocution that hit her little brother.

What if she grew up with a young Bruce somehow, whether it be because CPS took her from the Fentons after her Danny's death or Amity Park simply doesn't exist in the DCU making Gotham the city with the thinnest veil and thus where the Fenton's chose to settle down.

This Jazz is an adult in her 40s but was once a kid smart enough to go to Gotham Academy on scholarship (or maybe the Fenton's had enough money from patents?). A kid who took one look at young Bruce's grumpy little face and decided he needed a honest friend, one that wasn't after status or money.

This Jazz grew up being a secondary voice of reason for Bruce, ganging up with Alfred in their own crusade to enforce healthy habits on him in between their weekly tea sessions.

This Jazz lost her brother and could not only understand Bruce's resoning on a minor level but encouraged his planned "journey of self discovery and healing". (Though the bat costume he made when he came back was unexpected and she gave him a look to rival Alfred for it)

This Jazz grew up to be a social worker because if anyone had cared enough to take her away from the Fenton's sooner then her brother might've still been alive

This Jazz being the one Bruce calls when he first gets Dick because holy shit he has no idea what hes doing and "Jazz, i just became a father, help!"

This Jazz being a sort of aunt to all the Batkids and is a major influence that has led to their dynamics being similar to Wayne Family Adventures

Bruce goes pale and later calls Jazz after he finally gets a glimps/meets the so called "First Aid Cryptid" his kids have been obsessed with. Because this kid that he's looking at with the barely visible lichtenberg scars... that's a face he hasn't seen in little over 20 years, that's his old friend's long dead baby brother.

Bruce sees danny and his mind rapidly jumps to all sorts of possibilities. Is this a clone? Is this a trap? Are the Lazarus pits involved somehow? Time travel? He does consider a ghost but this kid is too solid and they're nowhere near the old dilapidated Fenton Works building

Eventually, down the line when they get the full story of Danny being from an alternate dimension, Jazz might try to adopt him. Which has potential to be unhealthy but i fully believe Jazz would be aware enough not to project her decades old grief on this Danny, who is so similar but so different to her brother.

(Because I think a Gotham raised Danny would've been similar to a young Jason in street smarts so this Amity raised Danny is noticeably different)

Danny on the other hand... not sure if i could say the same, especially if he just lost his Jazz before winding up in the DCU. But again, this is an adult Jazz in her late 40s with professional experience dealing with traumatized kids, and she'll do her best to help him through it

Im imagining Jazz and Bruce to have a more platonic friendship, maybe even see each other as family, but you could go with Parent Syndrome if you want

(And because i love to see other peoples ideas and opinions, @omnicrafts @ailithnight @atiyasnake @hdgnj @nelkcats @nerdpoe @im-totally-not-an-alien-2 @dcxdpdabbles. Sorry i tag you guys so much but i like your writing, im eager to offer ideas, and your posts have been major sources of joy while ive been hyperfixating on DPxDC)

[thekitsunesiren]

hello mind if I drop off a prompt?

Damian let's his family know he is going to hang out with a friend.

a bat bugs Damian to find him hanging out with one Danni Fenton.

adult Danny/Sam/Tucker parenting a 12 year old Danni.

The trio earn Auntie/Uncle/Uncle privileges from Damian.

Oh, this will be fun!

Okay, first things first would be the absolute disbelief from the batfam from Damian's announcement. Because Damian. Damian "Demon Brat" Wayne, had a friend. A friend that they didn't have the knowledge of knowing until just then.

With Damian springing it on them, they didn't have the time to ask any important questions, let alone do a background check on the kid and their family.

From what Damian told them, the kid they were meeting was named Danielle, but she preferred to be called Ellie. She and her parents had moved to Gotham not too long ago. He met her on a pure coincidence. And of course, with how paranoid the Batfam was, that didn't settle well for them. The parents could've sent their child to get close to the Wayne family for the money. Or kidnap Damian!

Tim walked up to Damian and ruffled his hair while teasing the younger Wayne about how he finally made a friend that wasn't an animal. With a scoff and a swat as a way to get rid of the opposing limb, Damian turned and left the manor while slamming the door behind him.

As soon as it closed, Tim raced back to where he left his computer. There was no way he wasn't going to let his little brother go anywhere unknown without at least two trackers on him. And with how the others quickly scrambled behind him to get a look on his computer, the others had the same thought.

------

Damian, however, was excited to visit Dani and her family.

The two had met when he was leaving school and waiting for Alfred to pick him up. And she wasn't that far from him, standing near the road waiting for someone to pick her up as well. At first glance, she looks like she could be someone adopted by father. Black hair tied to a ponytail and shockingly bright blue eyes. Immediately, he saw her as someone that his father would try to adopt just off of appearance alone. With her seeming to be around his age, he could claim that he could have a sibling to interact with more.

Of course, it wasn't long before the stranger took notice of his staring and turned to look him dead on. Her eyes meeting his in a serious stare down where neither of them moved.

When Damian made the move to speak, a car pulled up in front of the girl. The passenger side window rolling down and someone talking to the girl. She responded in turn before opening the passenger side door and getting in. Damian could only stand and watch as the car soon pulled away from the school and drive away into the distance. Not long afterwards, Alfred arrived to pick him up and he rode in silence on the way home while contemplating the other student that he met.

Okay! Here's how I feel like it would go down with their so called meeting out of the way.

Damian would see Dani and would immediately assume that she would be some sort of clone of either his father or one of the other bats. Was she sent to his school to watch and observe him? Did she know who his alter ego was?

After that, he would be watching her every move during class, surprising himself to find out that she was even in a few of his classes. Suspicious.

Does he approach her? No, because that would put too much on him and probably give her the opening she was expecting. He was ten steps ahead of her in every way!

Day after day, he watches and takes note of everything that she does, trying to notice any oddities in her behavior. Or any sign that she was spying on him.

While she didn't seem to be spying on him directly, Damian did notice her personality of being strong willed, stubborn and having a love for puns. Hm, a clone of the Robins maybe instead of Batman?

Dani, on the other hand, is wondering why the young Wayne seemed to be following her from a distance ever since they've seen each other that day on the end of school. From what Danny told her, it was the older Wayne's that she was supposed to avoid in case she was forcefully kidnapped, though it seemed that the younger Wayne was just as bad as the older ones.

How did Dani end up going to Damian's school, you ask? Well, it was simple:

Not long after Danny defeated Pariah Dark and took up the mantel as the next King of the Infinite Realms, Dani had returned from her travels around the world and decided to spend a bit of time with Danny as things calmed down. Maybe even get to know the others a bit better, seeing as she was never properly introduced to them.

She found out that he was dating both Sam and Tucker. Had been for a while now. Huh, go figure. And during that time of dating, she had arrived to catch up and spend a bit more time of all of them. Maybe even try to find a good reason to stay in Amity for a bit longer (even though she really loved to travel).

But not too long after that, a reveal gone wrong left Dani standing in a room with a frantic Sam packing up everything she owned while Jazz treated a barely conscious Danny's wound on his side. A gunshot wound that was from his parents no doubt.

One rushed explanation from Jazz about how the reveal went wrong, and how they had to leave Amity Park. Now.

With a quick meet up with Tucker, the five of them were huddled in a car and pedaling out of Amity as fast as they could. Dani staying in the back seat with Jazz to watch over Danny and make sure that he didn't pass out again on their way to-wherever it was they were going. Her core wouldn't allow it.

The clone didn't know how far they've been driving and for how long, but she knew that they were out of Amity and that was all that mattered. But the question bouncing around her head was: what happens now?

And the answer was to drive all the way called Gotham city and lay low for a while. Thankfully, a lot of the buildings were no questions asked. So when they find a place that could fit all of them (small and cramped as it was) while planning on what to do now. Of course Sam, Tucker, and Jazz all pretty much up and left without much except for some spare clothes and their ghost hunting gear (and a credit card Sam managed to snag from her mom's purse. Her own card didn't have as much on it.). But Danny was out of there and they were safe from both the Fentons and the GIW. For now.

Now, several weeks have passed. Jazz had managed to find a job to help with the money, while Sam and Tucker were both on the way as well. Which left Dani pretty much alone in the apartment with a slowly healing Danny. And while he was healing, he was kept on house arrest, much to his ire. Though he did help out with the cooking and other house chores while the others were out doing their own thing. And if the two of them occasionally floating outside their apartment during the night, who would tell on them?

When about two months passed, the older teens realized that Gotham would be their permanent home until further notice, so it would only be right that they allow Dani some time to get out as well.

So, they enroll her to school! Gotham U no less (Thank you, Tucker). Sure it was a bit stuffy for their tastes (mostly Sam's), but they were sure that Dani would fit in fine! What's the worst that could happen?

Unfortunately, Dani was a clone of Danny, so she was off to a bit of a rough start. And she hadn't really interacted with someone of her (supposed) age before, so it was all plenty new for her. So she really didn't know where to start.

It wasn't until she went to class that she met a kid in the back row facing the window, who looked like he didn't want to be in this class either. And during attendance she learned that his name was Damian Wayne. Odd, wasn't that the name of that rich family that Sam talked (more like complained) about? Oh well, coincidence maybe.

Throughout the entire day, Dani would notice that if they had the same class, he would be looking in her direction for moments at a time.

It was about the last class of the day when Dani pieced together as to why he could be doing that.

Oh..

He was shy!

Well, Dani would make sure that wouldn't last long. And maybe he would approach her soon.

So every day, Dani would work on getting to know him better. Even when he would brush her off and try to make her go away. She was as stubborn as Danny for a reason!

When the two finally became friends and Dani told that her new friend invited her to her house and also offered her parents, she forgot on whether or not that was truly the rich Wayne she was supposed to stay away from.

Dani had spoken about her friend plenty of times, and all of her parents seemed to like him.

Danny laughed every time Dani spoke about doing something or possibly pranking Damian, thinking that she was doing good with socialization and that the kid had to enjoy their friendship to some degree.

Sam was a bit more cautious of the friend, asking more of his likes and dislikes. Was he really bullying Dani? Did he say anything mean to her? Did she have to go to the school and fight a kid? All and all, Dani slowly convinced her that Damian was a good kid and she let it be. Telling Sam that Damian was a vegan may or may not have helped.

Tucker was a bit more lenient than the other two. The kid was nice to her? Didn't bully her? He was smart and knew his way around tech? Good

But as they stood in front of Wayne Mansion dressed in their more casual clothes, they all thought that they should've asked more questions about Dani's friend.

(All in all: neither of them have truly interacted with someone their age, your honor.)

Confrontations, miscommunication, and possibly a lot of bonding could come from both sides, and I would love to see it!

[josnhoes]

Platonic!Yan batfam with young adult reader. Part 5

[Part 4]

Note: Reader is 18-22 years old. Gn reader

Content warning: being treated like a child, being looked down on, obsessions, soft yandere but still a yandere, reader has memory issues and it's ambiguous as to why, delusional batfam, batfam as a whole basically view you as a child younger then Damien despite you being older, dissociation, abduction, drugging, so many lies

Focus Bruce Wayne (all his POV)

-----

Bruce hadn't wanted you to ever see the cruelty of the world. It's why he and your siblings worked so hard to prepare a room for you in the manor as swiftly as they could. You were too good for Gotham, maybe even the world. He wanted your integration into the family as seemless as possible. Painless too. But maybe he should have listened to his youngest after that first visit of his.

Damian had been insistent you couldn't handle life on your own. That you needed them to care for you, which he agreed with! He just also knew he couldn't just take you. They were heros they couldn't just abduct you. He told Damian and the others to treat you like a feral cat. Stay close but give you space, step in when need be and let you warm up to them. And look what happened.

You were barely here mentally. The trauma haze and shock yet to leave you, if not made worse by the lie *he* told you. You'd forgive him once you were better, you'd realize he was just doing what he had to do as your father. The risk of you going home was too great now.

He remembered the panic when you woke up in the room the family had made for you in the cave. He had been there in costume. The sight of him had managed to calm you. He was glad for that, it meant you thought of him as safe. You shouldn't considering he lied to your face.

The lie was simple one, easily kept up by the entire family. The mugging you had seen planted a target on you. The woman you tried to save, her parents were well-known crimelords in Star City, and they blamed *you* for their daughter's death. A hit was out on you; so you had to stay here with them until it was safe.

The news had made the shock you were in worse, making your mental state deteriorate more than when you'd first arrived. But he was happy to see the moments where the fog lifted, where you opened up to them again. Once he was sure you were attached, he'd let them all meet you outside of the costumes but that was a while away.

By the third day you'd gone from a husk to a crying mess. They'd all tried to consol you even himself. He made a promise that soon things would get better. And they would! You'd join the family, he'd spoil you with anything and everything you could dream of. You'd be in the manor properly and not in the cave.

Your sadness was a knife in his heart. Like any good parent, he just wanted you to be safe and happy. Bruce knew that for now, safety was key. Still he wouldn't lie again and say he wasn't envious when one of your siblings got you to smile. So far Damian and Jason had been the ones managing to get you to relax best. The nickname Sparky had taken over among all of them.

There were a few moments where your panic would rise up, you'd demand to know when you could go home becoming hysterical at the idea of losing your job and subsequently your home. He knew you wouldn't lose your home since it was here with them as for a job? You were still so young you didn't need one. Still, you'd work yourself up so much that whoever was near had to drug you. The tranquilizer was a gentle one. You were only out a few hours and much calmer when you came to. The downside is you forgot a lot that happened, though for now, that was a blessing.

He couldn't wait for you to meet his father figure, your grandfather Alfred. Sure, you'd met him when you first got here, but you didn't remember it. It's probably for the best, considering you'd likely have put the 2 and 2 together before he was ready for you to have that information.

Bruce reached over to your resting form and fixed the blanket that had fallen off of your shoulder. Soon, you'd take your place in the family, and no one was having an easy time waiting for it.

[zahri-melitor]

so i'm reading certain nightwing volumes from '96 - 02 for my current reading run following NML (shout out to @havendance, cannot thank you enough 🫶🏾) and while some aspects of how he's written is very compelling and interesting to chew on, for the most part it's been pretty....boring?? like i'm gonna keep reading it so i can have as much context as possible, but it feels more like a chore 😩

anyways, i read your response on that “who’d you choose to write nightwing” poll and i’d love to get your opinion on what nightwing runs/writers to read outside of those 8 volumes. i really wanna get into dick grayson’s character and personality! also, if it’s cool with you, anyone else please feel free to add to this!

-dominomasc

Hey, dominomasc. Unknowingly you've just raised one of the fundamental incongruities of how comics work.

Comics are about layers of stories providing depth to a character and about dozens of different interpretations more than they are about a single amazing run. (Some characters have That Run! But on average, most don't). Dick Grayson, a character that has existed for 84 years, has some very fun stories from all sorts of writers. His title, Nightwing, is also an excellent example of how a lot of long running titles often don't really have a stand out section that's head and shoulders above the rest.

I promise, you are never going to run out of stories to read about Dick Grayson (Comicsvine has him at 9,593 appearances as I write this). So yes, this is going to be about two things: advice on finding stories about Dick that vibe for you; and advice on understanding Dick alongside other storylines.

Taking into account what's listed above and the fact I'm moderately obsessive, I have compiled a discussion of most of the major writers who have written Nightwing runs, or who have written major titles that Dick also prominently appears in.

I am at heart a 'Dick belongs to the Bat Office' person and my expertise in most characters starts with COIE. On that basis I'm not going to dip into pre-Crisis here.

Marv Wolfman & George Pérez: New Teen Titans (1980-1993ish). I am not going to explain all the title names here; you're going to have to go get more detail from someone who treats NTT period as their special interest. Wolfman and Pérez are the architects of Nightwing as a character, separate to Robin, that Dick grew into. Read this period if you're interested in Dick as a young adult among the other Titans going through the transition into adulthood and independence, and his relationship with Kory. Basically it's a superhero young adult soap opera. It can be quite uneven in places, particularly towards the back end, and there are approximately a thousand discussions over which storylines are good and which should be fired into the sun. I am not a subject expert for this period.

Because of the state of the Titans titles in the early 1990s, the Bat office demanded Dick Grayson back under their control. Exactly when they got him back is slightly debated, but it would be fair to say Batman #500 (October 1993) marks his transition back to being a Bat character (around the start of Knightquest); by KnightsEnd and Prodigal (July 1994-January 1995) Dick is once again firmly a member of the Batman set of characters, and has remained so to date.

Prodigal, by Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant, Doug Moench: (Batman #512 to Robin #13). Use a reading list here as the stories are spread across multiple titles. Prodigal is 12 issues about Dick's first time being Batman, with Tim as his Robin, and his feelings about returning home to Gotham as an adult. Robin #13 in particular is possibly the most important issue of the story, as it's the foundation of a reset in Bruce and Dick's relationship with each other and how it is going to be characterised for the next decade or so.

Chuck Dixon: (Nightwing #1-70 1996, Nightwing: Alfred's Return, and a bunch of other one shots) So Dixon is probably DC's most prolific writer of all time, and is the architect of what's been treated as 'default Nightwing'. In this run, Dixon creates Bludhaven and the situation of Dick being its protector, out of a desire to be his own man apart from Bruce. He sets up an extensive Rogue's Gallery for Dick, the most famous of which is making Blockbuster one of Dick's main enemies. He has Dick working at a cop bar and then decide to enter the Bludhaven Police Department in an attempt to investigate it from the inside due to the levels of corruption. This is also the run where Dick and Babs get together as adults. Basically, everything about 'default' Dick that you probably know comes from this run. Dixon's great for character interaction, for world building, and and particularly at making various titles tie together - because he was writing at least 1/3 of DC's entire line for a while there he's the king of crossovers, giving a lot of depth to friendships because characters just pop between titles he's writing. His actual plots however vary between middling to occasional flashes of greatness. I'd consider The Hunt for Oracle (#45-46 and BOP#20-21) and the Shrike story (#55-58) to be the standout storylines in his Nightwing run; for individual issues I'd also point to #6 and #25 for his relationship with Tim, #16 for Dick building his car, and then his crossover issues in events tend to be quality.

Chuck Dixon and Scott Beatty: (Robin: Year One 2000, Batgirl: Year One 2003, Nightwing: Year One - Nightwing #101-106 1996) I am separating these three out from the rest of Dixon's work as they're quite important as retcons over Dick's backstory. Robin and Batgirl are well regarded rewrites of events; Nightwing is less so, partly because it's a solid example of the Jason personality retcon, and partly I think because a lot of people reading this were still well across the two 1980s versions of Dick's transition from Robin to Nightwing. I highly recommend Robin Year One, particularly with the Shrike storyline of Nightwing, as they are interlinked.

Devin Grayson: (Nightwing #71-100 & #107-117 1996, Nightwing/Huntress 1998, Gotham Knights #1-11 & #14-32, The Titans #1-20 1999) Oh, Devin. Devin Grayson is a Dick Grayson superfan (she uses Grayson as her surname because of Dick). She is really good at character introspection - Gotham Knights #1-11 contains some amazing character work. She's also not shy about establishing her own headcanons on characters and retconning their backstories. Devin's biggest contributions to the Dick Grayson lore are in establishing him as Romani and actually writing Bruce adopting Dick. Her run on Nightwing is best understood as a whump, break-the-cutie run, where Blockbuster sets out to destroy Dick's life, and in the process gets Dick fired, breaks up Dick and Babs, burns down Haly's Circus (for the first time), blows up his entire supporting cast, chases Dick out of Bludhaven and leads to Dick going under cover in the mob essentially to punish himself (also not the only time). Dick's also sexually assaulted in Nightwing #93 but I really beg people to read this in context of the rest of the run; this should be looked at as PART of the whole flow of whump, rather than as a separate situation. Grayson also had the title taken off her before she got to the 'comfort' part of the extended hurt/comfort storyline she was writing. It reads a lot better if you think of this in a more transformative fandom, ficcish manner of story rather than as a more standard run. If her Nightwing run is too grim for you, I highly recommend Gotham Knights and her Titans run; Devin Grayson is honestly best when she's writing a constellation of characters around Dick more than when she's writing Dick himself. She adores his friends and family. Standout issues to get a sense of Devin include: Nightwing #100, a self-reflective issue on Dick's history; Nightwing #81, where Dick's in hospital and Cass goes after Slade for him; Titans #15 1999, where the Fab 5 go on a camping trip together to get back to their roots and deal with a lot of tensions in the group; and Gotham Knights #8-11, Transference, where Dick and Tim team up to rescue Bruce, who's been brainwashed by Hugo Strange.

Jay Faerber: (The Titans #21-41 1999) Honestly Faerber's run on The Titans is not that Dick Grayson focused. It's entertaining if you want to read some solid Titans dynamics, but the standout characters you read this run for are Roy and Donna. Seriously, if you're into Roy, Cheshire and Lian drama I highly recommend Faerber's work; otherwise it's not an essential run for Dick.

Judd Winick: (Outsiders #1-25, 34-49 2003, Batman & Robin #23-25 2011) Winick tends to write an angrier and darker edged Dick Grayson, and he has a bunch of really common tropes you see pop out in his writing. These are no different, and thus include an awful lot of violence and characters having sex (so much sex). He can be quite funny as a writer, but honestly his Outsiders run does not have much of that humour. The Batman & Robin story is basically Winick finding some space to tie up his Jason Todd plot before Flashpoint obliterated it, more than an actual story about Dick. If you want a good encapsulating issue to get the vibe of Winick about Dick, take a look at Outsiders #21, which has a good chunk of Dick and Roy AND Dick and Bruce in it, though it's helpful to remember that this issue is set very shortly after War Games and so Dick is in a massive guilt spiral.

Bruce Jones: (Nightwing #118-124 1999) It's One Year Later! Bruce Jones moves Dick back to New York City (as Bludhaven went boom due to Chemo in the lead up to Infinite Crisis) and theoretically sets up Dick's status quo out to Reborn. So. The story Jones is most famous for is the first 4 issues of the run, which are generally referred to by fans as the TentaTodd story. Jason Todd turns up to run around annoying Dick by ALSO dressing up as Nightwing and committing crimes. He also turns into a tentacle monster for a bit. It is certainly a story that exists, but it actually is pretty in line with Jason and Dick's relationship up to Flashpoint: Jason turns up to be a brat who wants attention, does violent things, and Dick exhaustedly kicks the shit out of him and gets him locked up while despairingly going 'why is this my life'. Because of Jason running around killing people as Nightwing, the NYPD get mad at Nightwing and start trying to hunt him down. Jones is for the completionist.

Marv Wolfman: (Nightwing #125-137 1999) Lacking any better ideas, Wolfman gets a run on Nightwing. It's not Wolfman's finest work, to put it bluntly, and it's very obvious that Marv hasn't actually read any of Dixon or Grayson's runs. Marv does set Dick up working as a gymnastics and trapeze coach, which is always a decent job for him. If I had to pick one story from Wolfman, read Nightwing #127, where Dick gets buried alive and digs his way out of the grave.

Peter J. Tomasi: (Nightwing #140-157 1999, Batman & Robin #20-22 2011) Tomasi loves Dick Grayson, and particularly loves Dick's connection to his friends and family. Let me put it this way; in the lead up to Final Crisis and Blackest Night every title got an Origins and Omens short story on the back of an issue. Most books used it to write creepy or introspective reflections on awful stuff especially deaths that have happened to the characters. Tomasi used his to have Dick take Barbara skydiving for her birthday, and echo a bunch of themes from his first issue. I think this is one of the most mature and grown up looks at Dick prior to Flashpoint; Tomasi treats Dick as a grown adult with an adult relationship with Bruce. I love Freefall. Read Freefall to see some really interesting meta on Dick's relationship to the concept of falling and to the concept of catching falling people, a theme that's frequently present in his stories.

Grant Morrison: (Batman & Robin #1-16 2011) Astonishingly given how much of Reborn was designed by Morrison, they don't actually seem to care that much about Dick as a character more than as a prop to set Damian against. Dick's extremely focused on Damian in this title but also does not actually appear to like Damian very much. If I were going to recommend one story out of it I'd probably point to Batman & Robin #7-9, because Dick gets to be a giant hypocrite in them and tries to resurrect Bruce. It goes badly, for all involved.

Scott Snyder: (Detective Comics #871-881, Gates of Gotham, and like every Bat event during n52) The Black Mirror is probably my favourite piece of Dick!Batman storytelling set during Reborn. It's just elegant in terms of how hard Snyder pushes Dick and how his reactions are very much not those that Bruce would have. This is helpfully extremely obvious in that The Black Mirror and Gates of Gotham are actually part of a trilogy, the third act of which is Court of the Owls and due to Flashpoint Snyder had to rewrite CotO quite extensively including swapping Dick out of being Batman and having Bruce as the lead. Read The Black Mirror for Dick having a minor breakdown while solving a complex case with links to James Gordon and Babs. Read Gates of Gotham for incredible Dick & Tim & Cass & Damian fourway storytelling that shows the dynamics of every pairing out of the four.

Fabian Nicieza: (Nightwing #138-139 1999, Batman #703 & #713, parts of Battle for the Cowl, Nightwing #51-56 2016) The thing about FabNic is when he's on, he's very much on, and when he's not it can be painful. I actually almost would have skipped him on this list, but he very much deserves recognition for writing the Nightwing issues of Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul, which alongside the Robin issues portray exactly how far Dick will go for Tim; and for Batman #703, which is the only issue prior to Bruce's resurrection that actually puts Dick, Tim and Damian on page together as heroes. He also got saddled with writing the start of the Ric Grayson saga under the script of Scott Lobdell, which, well, is definitely at the 'not well regarded' end of his oeuvre. FabNic is again a writer that is really good at character interaction, and I tend to find whenever I'm reading events where there's heaps of writers involved and he's there, the issues I really enjoy are the ones he's had a hand in.

Tony S. Daniel: (Battle for the Cowl, Batman #692-699 & #704-707 & #710-712) Oh, Tony Daniel. Why. Daniel's stories are probably the most classic-Batman of the Dick!Batman stories. His stories revolve a lot around drama at Arkham Asylum, with Harvey and Gilda Dent, and with the Falcones. On balance I think you could probably actually trade Dick out for Bruce in half these stories and it wouldn't make a huge amount of difference. If I were going to suggest one to try, maybe go with #710-712? It's Harvey focused and it has Kitrina Falcone and doesn't actually depend on the whole Jeremiah Arkham thing.

Kyle Higgins: (Nightwing #1-12, 0, & 15-29 2011) For a reboot of Dick Grayson down to his fundamentals, and working within the requirements of the 5 year time line, I like Higgins' work on Nightwing. Sure, I could have done without him burning down Haly's circus, again, and all the Court of the Owls revelations, but some of that was clearly dictated to him, and they way he gave Dick time as a teenager with relationships with other characters at Haly's before his parents died worked quite well. If I were going to cite a favourite part of this run it's probably the last section, #18-29 when Dick moves to Chicago and tries the 'strike out as my own hero with my own city, screw you dad' thing for the first time in the new timeline. Higgins put in quite a bit of cast building work and it's a shame none of it ever got used again between Forever Evil and then Rebirth just ignoring everything during this period.

Tom King and Tim Seeley: (Nightwing #30 2011, Grayson #1-20) I'm going to treat these two together here as I can't actually easily subdivide the run between them. This is the longest period Dick goes undercover working as a spy because his life has just gone to shit. He is both spying on Spyral (for Bruce) but also his job within Spyral is as a spy and special agent. Think James Bond, except Dick also gets to be the focus of the objectification camera. Some people enjoy it as a change of pace, some people can't stand it because it's just a very weird story for Dick and Dick's generally personally unhappy when he's stuck undercover, and it definitely is a highlight in the 'did you know Tom King worked for an intelligence agency? Tom King is working out his feelings about working for an intelligence agency again' oeuvre. If you want to try an issue, I recommend Grayson #5 as probably the best character and storytelling piece in the entire run.

Tim Seeley: (Nightwing #1-34) Good stuff I can say about Seeley's run includes that he used Rebirth as a impetus to rebuild Dick's status quo. He did quite a lot of world building for a new version of Bludhaven, he got Dick back into Nightwing and back into a blue V costume for the first time in 7 years, he's interested in looking at the Grayson family and not so much in terms of the Court of the Owls stuff. He likes Dick and Damian's time as Batman & Robin. Seeley's also a fan of a lot of character beats in terms of Dick's characterisation that were pioneered by Devin Grayson - particularly in terms of Dick being easily attracted to women, being impetuous and hot headed at times, and in the Romani retcon. I don't necessarily see eye to eye with Seeley on all of his characterisation and story choices, but he does a lot of repair work on getting Dick back to being Nightwing, including things like repeating beats from the Dixon and Grayson runs so that Dick has that backstory again, and what that means for his character. I might suggest Nightwing #8 2016, because it revolves around Bruce and Dick and the concept of falling (I'm a sucker for a good falling metaphor) or #9, which is literally a discussion of the changes between n52 and Rebirth with both of the Clark Kents, and in which Clark points Dick to return to Bludhaven (in a sort of re-encapsulation of Clark originally giving Dick the inspiration for the name Nightwing, but this time pointing him to what people treat as his default 'home'). If you like the shape of Dick as Bludhaven's hero from fic, you probably will find Seeley's run has stuff to enjoy.

Sam Humphries: (Nightwing #35-41 2016) So Humphries' storyline is another good example of what a lot of the current run of Nightwing contains since 2016 - reinterpretations and new versions of old stories. In this case, it's an adaption of the Hanging Judge storyline to have taken place in Bludhaven in Bruce and Dick's past. I don't mind it as a story, but it's definitely there to remind you of old story beats.

I haven't yet read Benjamin Percy's run, or any of Ric Grayson yet (which is a combination of Scott Lobdell, Fabian Nicieza and Dan Jurgens), or Tom Taylor's run, so I don't want to give you too explicit opinions on these.

In general terms from experience on other titles and what other people have said: I really loved Benjamin Percy's Detective Comics #35-36 story in n52 and I suspect his Nightwing writing is a perfectly acceptable fill; nobody particularly likes the plot surrounding Ric Grayson, and the fact Scott Lobdell had a hand in plotting it seems to me to explain a bunch of the aspects of the scenario premise that upset a lot of people; Dan Jurgens is a DC workhorse who can turn his hand to anything; and Tom Taylor's run has been described as many as 'rewrite the arc of Devin Grayson's run but make it light and fluffy and free of consequences'. I honestly think if you haven't read much Nightwing yet, Taylor's run may be a good transition run to try to see if he's your vibe; I keep getting the impression he probably makes a good intro for new readers.

If you have any other writers you would like my impression of, please ask specifically; as I've said, Dick's been written by a LOT of people over the years.

[cloakedsparrow]

Thomas Lives! Bat-Family AU

Batfamily AU where Thomas Wayne moves to protect his son by shielding him rather than rushing the gunman after Martha is killed. Joe Chill was a mugger who didn’t expect to become a murderer that evening and he flees as soon as Thomas’ back is turned. Now both Thomas and Bruce survive and go home to Alfred.

Does Thomas become Batman and Bruce becomes the first Robin? Is Thomas (and later, Bruce) cool with lethal means when necessary but usually holds back because a) most street level crimes don’t require a lethal solution and b) he doesn’t want to traumatize his child any more than he already is?

Or does Thomas go all in with philanthropy to try to save Gotham and Bruce eventually becomes Batman because he sees there’s a missing piece? He figures between his father’s free clinic and all the money he puts into public transit, shelters, food banks, medical care, and education, Gordon fighting to clean up the dirty CGPD, and his efforts to take down organized crime as Batman, Gotham will be better off. Does he have to wait until he’s an adult to even start training for Batman because Thomas won’t let him go off to study the way of the blade until he’s graduated high school?

Do Thomas and Bruce trade off Batman for years once Bruce grows up and no one knows which one they’re gonna get? Most people don’t even know there are two so any theories on his identity is widely off? Neither one needs much of a cover since they’re both seen when the Batman is active plenty of times. Thomas continues on a surgeon. Bruce gets a business degree and works at Wayne Enterprises. Alfred continues to be the world’s most badass valet. They build the Martha Wayne Foundation together and are all active within it. Instead of Bruce and Leslie starting the Thomas Wayne Memorial Clinic, Thomas and Leslie build and run the Martha Wayne Memorial Clinic.

Does Bruce end up being less of a control freak because he never had full control in a world where his father was still around? With Thomas there to take care of things after Martha died, does Bruce even feel the need to control everything around him? Does he end up with more emotional intelligence and better communication skills in a world where he’s raised by both Alfred and Thomas? Is he just little quicker to trust people? Is he less likely to date criminals and tell them his secret? Is he a little quicker to smile?

In the OG timeline, 18/19 year old Dick wanted to adopt newly orphaned Jason Todd and Bruce stopped him and stated that he would adopt the kid while Dick went to school and started his life. Would the same thing happen between 22/23 year old Bruce and Thomas with newly orphaned Dick in this universe? With a healthier father figure and Bruce as a brother rather than father, would Dick and Bruce ever have the falling out they eventually did in canon? If they still fought when Dick outgrew Robin, would Thomas be able to be a better mediator than Alfred, since he doesn’t have any constraints in his relationship with them? If Bruce had been Robin himself, and eventually became Batman after his father stepped away from the role, would Bruce even blink at Dick moving on?

Jason’s adoption would probably go much the same, but afterwards, things would probably change.

Because if Dick and Bruce aren’t butting heads, and they’re both always welcome in their dad’s Manor (possibly even both reside there), does Dick -now the cool, young uncle- end up spending more time with Jason? Bruce can’t teach a lot of what Dick can do (no one but Dick probably can) once he melds his circus training with his fight training, so Jason had to become a brawler/bruiser in order to do the same job in canon. This meant his violence looked like violence, whereas Dick’s violence looked like cute acrobatic tricks pulling the criminals’ attention away from Batman. If Jason gets the chance to learn more from Dick, or if Dick is able to go to bat for him without triggering any bigger fights with Bruce (plus Thomas there for Bruce to turn to with dad questions/rants), does Bruce ever think Jason is crossing a line?

Even if he does, Jason isn’t in quite the same place in this universe. Even if Dick is still incommunicado when he overhears Bruce talking to Alfred and misunderstands, he now has someone else he can turn to: Grandpa Tom. Does Thomas tell Bruce that he’s not too big for a scolding and he needs to go apologize to his son? Does Bruce take that advice and explain everything to his kid so Jason never returns to his old neighborhood to learn that his mom wasn’t his biological mother?

Batman doesn’t take off in the Bat-Jet every time a Gothamite gets into trouble somewhere. It’s reasonable to assume that if Tim isn’t his emotional support child -and therefore standing right next to him when they learn his parents have been taken captive- Bruce wouldn’t leave Gotham to go save the Drakes. Obeah Man always planned to kill Jack and Janet, so they’d both die in that incident.

Does Bruce step in to adopt Tim when he realizes the orphaned boy has no family left and is worth millions of dollars (which will lead to all kinds of trouble in Gotham)? Under what circumstances does the rest of the family learn that Tim knows their secret? Does he just take pity on them when they’re trying to explain away an absence or injury one day and gently tells them that he’s known who they were for years already? Does he step in to help when they’re in trouble at some point, and is like ‘by the way, I’ve known since I was nine but that’s not important right now’ similar to canon? Does he stop Jason from running into trouble without backup one day and in the middle of arguing that he has to go, Jason realizes that the little shit knows? Do they decide to tell him one day and he overdoes his ‘shocked’ reaction? Or does he sell it perfectly and it’s years before they learn he already knew?

How does Jason take to being a big brother? Does he jump into the role with enthusiasm? Is he unsure about it? Is he determined that his little brother will know no further heartache and ends up bullying their dad (Bruce) into better self care as a result? Does he just kind of ignore Tim while he tries to figure out how he feels about all the changes until he sees some kid bullying his little brother at school and hears Kill Bill sirens going off in his head? Do they become an unstoppable team both at home and in the field? Do they geek out about books together even though they have different tastes in them? Do Bruce and Thomas just check the library any time they can’t find the boys?

Or does Jason die anyway? And Tim still steps in to help, but with another person watching with a different perspective from the others?

Everyone else is focused on the fact that Tim is already a skilled detective who knows their secret, has been studying martial arts and acrobatics enough to have a solid foundation and some decent skill already, and can recognize that Bruce needs help and therefore, should totally be the new Robin. Thomas, however, stops to ponder why it is that Tim was able to recognize Bruce and Batman’s heavily hidden depression. Instead of questioning how Tim knew where Dick lived and worked and all that, he questions how the hell a kid that young just fucked off to another state without anyone noticing. Yeah, he’s worried about Bruce getting stabbed and just going back into a fight, but he’s already got Alfred and Dick on his ass about that, so he can take a moment to feel the horror at the fact that a child witnessed that and didn’t respond as though it were the worst thing they’d ever seen. While no one else questions that Tim just had his boarding school start forwarding his mail to Wayne Manor without issue, does Thomas stop to go ‘WTF? Why is no one questioning what the Drake boy is doing here?’

Does Thomas decide that while helping Bruce, they can also help this kid who is clearly in dire need of competent adult supervision?

Who, then, adopts Tim? Thomas or Bruce? Or does Alfred adopt him out from under them, so they each get a little boy wonder? Do most people who encounter the family have a period where they try to figure out which black-haired, blue-eyed kid is which black-haired, blue-eyed man’s child before giving up with a headache? Does Bruce sometimes refer to Alfred as his mom the way Dick has a few times in canon? Are outsiders utterly confused about the whole lot? Do they all just live in the Manor together as one happy and less-dysfunctional-then-they-could-have-been family?

When Cass enters the picture and Bruce is focused on the whole assassin-turned-vigilante bit, is Thomas in the background going ‘Yes, a granddaughter! Have you met your new little brothers, yet? Oh, you don’t know how to speak? You know they have teachers for that, right, Brucie? We can afford one that will keep their mouth shut if she lets anything slip during lessons. You go help Barbie research that while I introduce her to the alphabet. See? Wasn’t that easier than making the poor girl point at everything until we caught on to what she wanted?’

‘This is your Uncle Dick, he’s going to teach you how to use the trapeze! What’s that, you like ballet? I’ll build a studio in the Manor and get you private lessons! You like roses? Alfred, want to help us build Cassie a rose garden!? Of course she broke those men’s arms, Brucie, he was harming her little brothers! I seem to recall you breaking more than a few arms when someone hurt Dickie!’

Instead of coming to Gotham with his quiet, emotionally stunted father to meet an uncertain and grieving adopted brother and very professional Alfred, does Damian end up hearing all about his new family and asked after his interests by his more mature father? Does he exit the Batmobile to be gathered up in a big bear hug by the unit of a man that is Thomas Wayne? Is he then introduced to his uncle, sister, brother, and whatever Tim ended up being in this universe? Does that make the introduction go better? Either because there are just too many variables in play for his planned takeover or because he’s too stunned at everyone being genuinely happy to meet him that he forgets he could be cursing and trowing a tantrum when they talk about helping him unpack and get ready for bed after his long trip?

Does Damian still try to kill Tim (the current Robin) off? Does he try, but this much more cohesive and connected version of the family keeps stopping him? Do they talk him through his issues better? Does he learn what it means to be part of a family much sooner? Does he end up with an art studio and a pair of kittens by the end of the first week? Does Thomas call up Talia to arrange for Goliath to be sneaked into Gotham to live in the Bat Cave once he learns that his grandson is missing his dragon bat over hot chocolate one night?

Or does Batman/Previous-Batman/Sometimes-Batman, Thomas Wayne, just raze the League the first time Ra’s messes with his son? Does Bruce get to stay with Talia to raise Damian from the beginning in his family’s ancestral home with his father, honorary second parent, little brother, daughter, son, and whatever Tim is to him in universe? Does Talia go off to become CEO or COO of another company on her own after her father’s demise? Does she work for Wayne Enterprises? Do she and Bruce get together under different circumstances? Do they not get together at all and Damian is never born? Or are things much the same between them, except she realizes that Bruce can give Damian a real family in this universe and hands him over sooner?

If Jason died and came back, how would Thomas’ presence alter his actions afterwards?

Would Thomas have killed the Joker once the threat of starting an international incident was taken off the table? Would any member of the family give a shit if Jason used guns or killed the occasional murderer/pedophile/human trafficker in this universe? Even when Jason saw there was a new Robin, he wouldn't be able to say who brought Tim into the fold, so that wouldn’t make him feel as replaced. He’d have a moment to step back and question it in a way he never did in canon. Even if he was still hurt and pissed at Bruce, would knowing Thomas, Alfred, and Dick were all there be enough to bring Jason home anyway? Would his grandpa and new little siblings ever let him leave again once he did?

Would Bruce have reacted better to Clark confessing to killing some of his rogues in a world where he was raised by Thomas? Would they never have their falling out and end up even better friends without that interruption in their relationship? Between that and having less overall issues, would Bruce be willing to call his friend sooner when he needs help? Would that extend to more members of the Justice League? Is he laid up with a broken leg and calls in Barry when Mr Freeze breaks out of Arkham because he has experience with ice-themed villains? Does Killer Croc get bitch-slapped back into Arkham by Wonder Woman one day because Bruce and his kids all had the flu and he asked for her help?

Does Jean Paul Valley ever become Batman? Or does Thomas just step into the suit while Bruce is recovering so Jean Paul gets more training time? With another adult around, does Tim still have to babysit Jean Paul all by himself? Are they able to catch the fact that Jean Paul is losing it sooner?

Does Bane have any idea what hit him when Thomas-Batman comes for him after he hurt his son?

/|^;-;^/| ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ /|^;-;^/| ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ /|^;-;^/|

Just some questions that came to me while I was feeding my goats this morning…

[celmian]

"Cooking for Alfred" Damian Wayne x OC's short fanfic.

/Adult Damian (University)

/warnings/ Dirty joke, (18+) language/

Hi, first of all this is just one of the part of the main fanfic I have been written. The oc is now dating Damian and she wants to cook for Alfred on his birthday. You can follow-up the main story in AO3. The fanfic is called 'Damian Wayne x OC : Hunting the witch'. English is not my first languages so, I hope I didn’t mess up anything.

Also, the oc name is Celine Constantine. She is John Constantine's daughter. Hope you enjoy.

_________________________________________

“…Celine, didn’t you used to tell me that you know how to cook?”    “Well, cooking is not baking...”    A picture of two teenagers approaching adulthood walking chaotically in the kitchen… Around the counter island there was powder and the egg panels all over were probably a strange sight that happened in Wayne Manor…a sight that Alfred Pennyworth would not have allowed to happen in normal situations because he wouldn't have to bother cleaning up the mess later. 

...but today is Alfred's birthday. 

  So Celine has a crazy idea. As a resident, she wanted to give him a surprise. So, they have Bruce take the old man into town while the two young men,Celine and Damian, prepare a homemade birthday cake for the butler. The witch Constantine claims to have worked behind the stove at Fine Dining restaurant before...Damian doesn't know in which position. But from the looks of it, she isn't a dessert chef definitely... 

“...Okay, I'm just one of those people who helps prepare the cold kitchen where they serve appetizers and such...but back when I'm in London, I always cook for myself. I just never made dessert. That’s all.” The girl immediately defended her cooking skills. “The pasta with grilled vegetables that you ate the other day was made by me...” With that, both of her hands are now placed on the hips..    “Really?”    Damian Wayne had known that his girlfriend liked to help Alfred prepare food…but he thought she might just be chopping vegetables, preparing meats, whatever like that. Instead of making her own menu like she claimed. 

…The other day, the pasta that Damian packed to eat at university for lunch was so delicious that he asked Alfred to make it a daily menu. The old man smiled suspiciously. It wasn't him who made it, but it was the witch. 

“…Shall we make pasta instead then?” the young man suggested as his head recalled the rich flavor of the fresh pasta and grilled mushrooms, he had eaten the day before…    “It's Alfred's birthday, Damian. We must make a cake...”  

“But the others will come here soon…we have to prepare other kind of food anyway. Why don't you go take care of the savory and leave me here with the cake?” Both Richard Starfire, Raven the witch, and Stephanie Brown...including Tim Drake will be here today for the old man’s birthday. So, if they both waste time on one cake, they won't get anything done into pieces. The young man waved his hand and chased his girlfriend away from his dessert making area, earning a look of pouty face from Celine Constantine. 

"..You? Are you sure you know how to bake?" The girl looked at her boyfriend's face judgmentally... 

“Better than you do.” His hand moved towards the first cake that had been baked, which was so crumbly and incomplete that the whole thing had to be thrown into the trash… Only then the black-haired witch calms down and walked away to do her own duties as well... 

A long time had passed and the whole kitchen was quiet…no sound except the sound of boiling water, the sound of beating eggs, and other sounds of cooking. Celine walked back around to find her boyfriend in the dessert kitchen area, which was also quiet. She saw him in an apron Standing and squeezing cream into a round disc of something. With diligence and expert look. The young girl watched as those slender, beautiful fingers gently put the round plates together. so, she couldn't help but tease him about how skilled he was. 

“You make macarons? Wow. I didn't know that I slept with the Master Chef of dessert every day.” ...This French dessert is so hard to make. Even Celine couldn't make it through just baking a cake...but this Baby Bat showed off his skills in making macarons? Why he’s so annoyingly talented? 

Damian didn't answer…he shook his head and wiped the sweat from his chin. That's when the young girl came to help. using the handkerchief that was placed on his shoulder to wipe away the sweat that was flowing down the small frame of his chin before smiling at the face's owner.    “..Does this mean that if we get married you will be the househusband? Hmm? Dami?” 

“Dream on.” Damian shook his head, expanding his words as he looked proudly at the work on the table. “...Housework is a duty that we must help on both sides. And I have to go to work…Father's company will soon be mine. If I only act as your butler, who will run the company? Hmm, Celine?” Those words weren't very serious... The young man kissed his girlfriend's head as a thank you for helping him wipe his face before walking off to explore the savory side..    “…You....You make a heck lot of pasta.” Deep voice hurriedly commented on the amount of fresh pasta that the young girl had prepared in a pot for the people coming to the party to eat.   “Well, don't you remember the last time Dick ate the entire pot of meatballs by himself?” Celine reminded the young man of Bruce's birthday back in the middle of the year when the eldest of the family accidentally ate a meatball that Alfred had made for everyone all by himself.  “You’re right. Richard must have eaten it all by himself.” Damian Wayne immediately agreed…he nodded before quickly helping his girlfriend clean up the kitchen. Prepare a plate for the guests who will be coming to the old butler's birthday dinner in a few hours. 

In the evening, Bruce, Alfred and Stephanie, who went to help Bruce, arrive at the manor with Damian, Dick, the two girls from Titans, and Tim Drake is waiting. Of course, Damian briefly relents with Tim to stop his eldest brother from eating all the food before the birthday owner arrives.    The old man walked into the house, filled with joy. Starfire and Raven were the ones who brought out the cake. The remaining people sang songs of blessing to the talented butler. Damian stood and applauded silently. Dick sings off-key and loses his voice as Stephanie tries to save the song from crisis but failed. And after Alfred blew out the candles, they all gathered around the grand dining table of the mansion that was full of guests today…    “..This pasta is very delicious. Miss Celine, did you do it yourself?” The old butler was happy… that today he didn't have to prepare huge quantities of food himself. But what will the condition of the kitchen be like? This is something to worry about.    “Yes.” Celine smiled as she proudly watched Richard gobble down her pasta from the pot… 

“...What about macarons? Did you make it yourself? It's just as delicious as the one my friend brought from France.” Tim tried to compliment the new girl in the Bat House that he hadn't talked to much before Damian put down his fork and a smile curled his lips. It was then that Red Robin knew exactly who the person that made this tray of macarons was. “Oh my gosh…”  Tim shook his head, his hand hurriedly put down the dessert… but after a while he reluctantly picked it up and ate it again.    “Wanna bet on who made the cake?” On Dick's side, his hand was still holding the fork around the pasta. Turning to Bruce, who had been eating quietly by himself for a long time… The Dark Knight shook his head. Looking at the large chocolate cake with candles that had been sliced ​​up by Raven and Starfire for the party. Those blue eyes looked at the cake for just a moment and then responded immediately. 

“It’s Damian, obviously.”    “But I think it’s Celine,” Dick quickly bets against…    “..Ahem, Master Bruce, Master Richard. Gambling is not a good behavior to do on this kind of celebration....”  The birthday man sitting next to Bruce couldn't help but cough after hearing that conversation… He took the cake from Starfire and held it in his hand before considering it without tasting it. “I think they both do it together.”    “Accept the bets” Nightwing gave the old man a challenging smile before turning and asking to the two young men who the winner of this bet would be… “Hey! Little D! Celine! Who made this cake?”    “It’s Damian.” …and the answer from the young witch made Alfred stunned because even though he was the one who taught Damian how to bake, he had no idea that the boy would be able to use what he had taught him to do it all by himself. Dick was annoyed but managed to get a smile from Bruce as the old butler and Nightwing took a cash from their pockets and paid the manor a bill each. 

…and soon after the cakes, pasta, macarons, and all sorts of food were eaten by the people in the house, most of whom was Dick, the guests gradually left. They left Alfred a gift. Stephanie left the baking equipment. Damian gives him a cookbook. Dick gives him a new suit. Raven and Starfire buy him a new portable oven. Bruce gave him gloves and a winter coat, but Celine unexpectedly gave the same book as her boyfriend… 

“Damn, I didn't know we were going to buy the same book... and it's the exact same one but in a different language,” the young witch complained about when Alfred has to have the exact same gifts but in difference language without nobody knowing it beforehand. “...And why are you buying a Chinese text cookbook? Shouldn't those things have to be transported by ship?” The two young men were cleaning up the house while Alfred was sent to sleep by Damian. Meanwhile, Bruce handles company work before leaving on late-night patrol. And Celine complains loudly about the gift she has just given the old butler. 

“...Chinese recipes should be read in Chinese. Do you think Pennyworth couldn’t read Mandarin?” Damian frowned at the witch's question. She usually likes to buy books about the same story but in different versions or sometimes in different languages. But today she suddenly complains to him about it… “You can't read Chinese? Can’t you?” So, the young man made this assumption.    …and damn, Damian Wayne really has good instincts for matters that don't matter. 

The girl rolled her eyes, and the young man knew immediately that she was complaining about the whole Mandarin language stuff because she couldn't read it herself…    “I swear to you. Damian…if you start speaking Chinese to me. I'm going to suck your dick until it's rotten-”    “-下流 (Xia Liu)” …and of course, the mouthy young man wasn't easily fazed by that threat. He chuckled before starting to spit Chinese at the other person after knowing that she wasn't good at it...well, he's always been like this...loves competition like a psychopath.    “坏蛋 (Huai Dan)” But then the black-haired witch immediately shot back… she put down the powder box she was holding and put it on the countertop with a look of trouble on her face amidst the young man's bewildered expression.    “..I thought you couldn't speak Chinese?”    “When did I say I couldn't speak Chinese? I just couldn't read it.”  Celine raised her eyebrows with a defiant expression on her face…    “Then from now on, I'll send you a text in Chinese-”    -wad!    And then the box of powder that had been put down in the first place flew towards Damian Wayne immediately as he continued to annoy her. The witch already knew that an ex-assassin like him would definitely be able to catch that thin cardboard box. So, she crossed her arms over her chest, as her boyfriend caught it with precision and looked towards her.    “Did you know…one of your bad habits is throwing things when you don't get what you want?” Damian had seen Celine throw a pillow or sometimes an entire cigarette box at her father...sometimes she had a good reason for doing that. Sometimes there is no reason at all. Celine Constantine was spoiled rotten by her irresponsible father. But she is a spoiled person who knows that she has a bad personality…so Damian can accept it in somewhat of of way.

Because he's like that too.    “..So? Do you want me to describe your bad habits too?” The girl folded her arms across her chest and raised her head to look at her boyfriend with another look of trouble. 

“Go on…” The young man looked at those expressions. He didn't feel annoyed. Instead, he slowly walked towards his lover... a mischievous smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as his girlfriend smiled back and knew that he was definitely going to find something to get back at her... 

“Let's start with what? The size of your dick? I think it should be illegal-”  

“-Celine, we are talking about my bad personality, not what you like but denies that you don't like...” Damian, on the other hand, quickly used his strong hands to gather his girlfriend's mischievous body into an embrace...watching her laughing, pretending to run away but not getting anywhere.    “..So... What about your competitive personality? I swear, if I say I like a horse's cock, you will definitely going to lengthen it to compete with the hoarse-” 

Phew!!    ...and Celine's foul mouth made the arrogant boyfriend unable to bear it anymore. He took the box of powder in his hand that his girlfriend had thrown and dumped it on her head. He knew that Alfred would definitely curse him if he saw the kitchen floor right now. But believe him, it was very satisfying to see a person with a good mouth become silent because of the amount of flour stuck in her throat. She choked, the powders are now all over the sweet face attached to that bad mouth... 

But Celine Constantine wasn't the type to give in even in the most demanding situations… She turned and smeared the powder on her boyfriend's face. Smeared white powder on his perfect body. Damian is inferior. His hands scooped up the powders that had flown onto the counter and threw them all over his girlfriend's face, causing a small war in the kitchen. The one that ended up with Alfred walking in… The old man wanted to come get some water to quench his thirst after waking up late at night. Before coming to see his nightmare come true. Two young people threw cooking flour at each other. Rubbing each other's hair like it was a fun idea...Even Richard, at his most naughty age, had never done anything like this before...Then both young adults get warned by Alfred. Damian Wayne, who even used to be a child with a loudmouth that caused a lot of troubles, but he never caused any mischief like this before. So, he gets warned too. 

…but hey! At least this time Celine didn't start it.    Didn’t she?            “I got 1 point, and you got 0…” 

After fighting until they both were satisfied, the two young people came to take a dip in the water to clean themselves together after the war ended before Damian had to go on patrol with his father... Celine acts like a little kid who likes to play with a duck. She lets the plastic ducky float on the water in the tub. Damian was forced to watch her play with it while having his lover sit on his lap in the tub. 

“Why did I get 0 points when I really am the one who started it?” His thin lips gently kissed the shoulder of the person on his lap. His eyes looking at his wet girlfriend, he is frowning while asking...    "..It's easy because I'm the one giving the scores." Celine pinches her boyfriend's nose at the same time as squeezing the duck in her hand...it very well triggers a feeling of annoyance from her lover. A strong hand squeezed that round cheek, causing her to scrunch up until he had to let go before the two of them could continue their war in this bathroom.    “I think Pennyworth looks very happy… I have to thanks you for organizing this event for him today.” After pounding his girlfriend's face until he was satisfied, Damian Wayne hurriedly changed the conversation to the serious subject before Celine could react… Her expressions changed and nodded her head softly. Continue squeezing the duck in her hand instead of getting revenge on Damian... probably because she was thrilled that her idea made the old man smile this much. 

“...Come on, don’t act like you guys have never done this before…” Celine pouted a little while Damian's smile twitched slightly at the corners of his mouth before he looked away. 

“Actually… Normally we are all busy that no one takes the lead in this matter. Richard and Drake would just stop by for lunch on the day. Gave things to Pennyworth and left… We never got together like this. Until you are the one who suggested it.” ...It was probably the nature of Bat House to always forget the most important matters outside of their night duties… They often forgot the daily lives of those around them. It's something that almost every Bat member been.    “..So, I'm glad you chose to be a normal person and stay here with Pennyworth.” Ever since Celine Constantine entered the mansion, things had started to change a little… Even though she is that kind of person who don't celebrate her own birthday but she did it for others. After receiving Damian's first birthday present. She organizes a party for Bruce. And this time it was Alfred. She comes from the house of an occult detective but doesn't want to continue being the occult detective. Like she knew how lonely their careers were…she chose to be a normal person and spent her time doing things that Damian and the other Bats couldn't. Both are things that John Constantine couldn't do either. 

She chooses to spend time with those who she loves.    Celine gently touched her lover's face when she heard that. Her hand slid down his face before embracing it. 

“...Don't worry. Damian…Whatever you feel like you can't do or find it difficult to do. I will do it for you. You don't have to say or express everything to me. Just be with me, be happy…and I will do whatever you want to do for you.” A sweet voice whispered softly, kissing her boyfriend's forehead once...it was a voice that the young man felt calm after listening to. It felt like he didn't have to try so hard anymore…it felt natural. That would be more accurate to say... 

…Damian Wayne closed his eyes and immersed himself in that embrace for as long as he could. 

______________________________________

P.s.: Damian in this fanfic became softer after dating Celine and she moved in his manor because she decides to study at Gotham's university. Her back story made her father doesn’t celebrated her birthday because John Constantine didn’t celebrate his own birthdays too. Hopefully I will post more of them in the future.

P.s.2 : Yes, She has a foul mouthed like her dad lol

[devine-fem]

Why do you ship damian and Jon? especially still as they are now in canon, I’m genuinely just asking…

This is a loaded question.

Firstly, my introduction to younger heroes was through Super Sons and I didn’t immediately ship them until I entered the fandom and had all their content clash together consistently in my head and it slowly made me realize the potential of the characters and what I was reading.

I’m more of a Damian Wayne enjoyer than anything in the batfam, he’s my favorite Batkid, then its Jason and Cass. I really enjoy his character and I also really relished in the potential Jon had with Damian and how he was a genuine friend.

I really do think that if done right then Damian and Jon being in some sort of relationship would not only be excellent representation but also, could fix a lot of troubling aspects of their character. Like their mantles and how their characters function in canon. Their relationship could be catalyst for them seeking a new mantle.

It’s more so built off of the mutual friendship they have for each other and how much they care about the other person.

A lot of people expect me to consider older Jon because he’s canon but no, I don’t like Jon’s age up for many, many reasons so I choose to ignore it.

Whoever chooses to get mad at me for it are hypocrites because you cannot honestly tell me there aren’t stuff about your favorite character that you don’t choose to ignore… every character in dc has done something problematic and if you didn’t ignore something, they wouldn’t be enjoyable.

People only want me to take in older Jon because they either hate the ship or weirdly enjoy Jon’s pseudo-relationship and feel threatened over Damijon even though it’s an entire fanon ship and can’t do anything to harm canon in the first place. You guys have the canon ship, why do you have to feel so threatened?

On Damian’s part, there’s flatline but I don’t personally feel threatened by his relationship/romance with her… she’s a fine love interest and I really enjoy her allegories of death, it’s interesting to think about and how that correlates with Damian’s grief with Alfred. There’s no reason for me to get so up and arms about Damian’s canon romances… it’s fandom… I think I would even like them a lot at some point when Nika gets some more content in the future. I also fear for her because she’s so new and has potential to become a character we grow to hate once other writers get their hands on her… (I have more thoughts on this but that’s all for now)

Jay… no… I’m sorry, there’s no appeal with him and Jon and with how it came about… I don’t find it likable.

Like I don’t actually want Damijon to be canon ever, really, it’d be a nightmare in the longrun with how these writers handle queer relationships.

And yes, people are always like “Damian and Jon had an age gap even before the age up-“ Dude, their ages were infamously inconsistent in comics that weren’t Super Sons, sometimes they had a 1-2 year age gap if you put them on a certain timeline in canon. Super Sons is what established the age gap, and even after Jon was aged up, till Taylor took it, they still had an inconsistent age gap. Jon’s age was inconsistent and Damian was also aged up but people tend to forget that.

Jon and Damian don’t have canon birthdays and didn’t know each other for that long before the age up. The age gap is probably much smaller. Even Taylor sometimes refers to it as “2-3 years” but he’s never consistent on any basis so…

I simply just think they’re 1-2 years apart in my head, or sometimes 3 as well. But I also, don’t consider them being in a healthy romantic relationship unless they are adults. No one should consider Jon and Damian actually being able to hold a relationship while they are young, it wouldn’t work. Any shipping I do while they are younger, is because that's where they peaked and it’ll be entirely innocent.

If they were to be in a relationship as they’re older, I seriously do think they can be incredibly happy together. I feel they are somewhat the perfect person for the other.

Thanks for the ask.

[rubydubydoo122]

Jason gets de-aged because I've seen fics of Tim or Dick being de-aged, and Bruce losing his memory, but no one has realized the potential for angst if you de-age Jason.

Also, and Author's note-- when I wrote this fic, I was using the Latino Jason Headcanon, I don't really believe in that anymore, but this chapter is heavy handed with that headcanon, but it's just filler, so you can probably skip it if you hate it.

Jason tried really hard to find Bruce after that, but he could not cross paths with him. It was like everyone was trying to stop him. 

Damian stopped him first, “I’m going to take Titus and Ace to the park. You are coming with me.”

Before Jason could even tell him that he had to talk to Bruce (because Constantine had told Jason that the spell was going to wear off, but he didn’t tell Jason when) he was being dragged out the door.

The park in Bristol was a 20 minute walk from the manor, and somehow, they didn’t need any adult accompaniment. Sure, they were trained, and they were also going to the safest park in town, but still, whenever Jason wanted to go, he had to go with Alfred, Dick, or Bruce. Though, they were also Jason’s only options for company, so maybe that’s why.

Though Titus was up to Jason’s shoulder , and Ace wasn’t much shorter, so big dogs probably helped. 

Damian dug through his backpack, threw a rope to Titus and Ace, then took a sketchbook out and sat under a tree. Jason sat down next to him and observed the park.

A lot has changed about it. A lot of the trees and benches were in different places. The walkways that had previously been a concrete sidewalk had been changed to a red rubber track, and the playground had been completely renovated. 

A part of Jason wondered if the old playground in Park Row had been fixed up in the past couple years, but he knows even if it was, it probably was ruined again by a rogue attack. Bristol could afford a clean park. It was safe.

He watched as a kid, maybe 5, walked hand in hand, bubbled in between her parents, as they lifted her up in the air every couple of steps. 

He doesn’t think he could remember Mami and Papi walking with him like that. Maybe they had moments like that when Jason was too young to remember, maybe they just never had them at all. Now, all he could remember when Mami and Papi were together was when he was under the table, hugging Sparky tight as trying to block out the sounds of glass shattering, or skin making contact with skin.

Jason’s eyes made their way back to the playground, where a kid, maybe 7, was on his dad’s shoulders gripping the monkey bars. 

He knew that Papi had loved them both. He had to take those jobs to make money for them. To take care of them. He drank to forget the crimes he did to keep the heat on, or put food on the table. If he didn’t love them, he could’ve left. If he didn’t love them, he wouldn’t have gone to prison for them.

There was a mother laying on the grass with her daughter, maybe 11, tying flowers together in a crown. 

And Mami, she had to have loved him too. Jason wasn’t even hers, yet she had loved him like his own. Even though in the end she needed the Heroin more.

Jason could feel Damian’s eyes on him. “What’s up hermanito? ” 

Damian shook his head and closed his sketchbook. “Nothing.”

That was…very convincing. “Am I your muse?” Jason pointed at the sketchbook. 

Damian shrugged and placed the book back in his bag, “I was drawing you before you…shrank. It was missing something, though now I have an idea.”

“You’ll show it to me when you’re done?”

Damian just shrugged and gave the command for Ace and Titus to come along. 

By the time they got back to the manor it was close to 6:30, and Jason really wanted to talk to Bruce. Except he ended up helping Alfred with dinner. And then Bruce wasn’t even at dinner. And then before he could sneak down to the cave to talk to him, he’d already gone out for patrol. Jason wasn’t even allowed to snoop because Alfred wouldn’t let him. 

He was standing across from Batman. In a beat up abandoned apartment. 

He had the Joker in a headlock. He had a gun in his hands. And so did Batman.

Even with the cowl on Jason could see the look of distraught that drowned Bruce’s– Batman’s face. 

“Stop this. Enough. You know I won’t–”

And that was the problem. Jason knew he wouldn’t. He knew Batman could never kill the Joker. But even after Jason revealed himself, he continued to fight him. In fact, the punches felt harder. He thought he had cared. He thought Bruce had cared about him, but he would always put the Joker first. He would always put Batman first. “All you’ve got is a headshot. I’m gonna blow his addled deranged brains out– and if you want to stop me..” He could feel the knot form around his throat, “You’re going to have to shoot me. Right in the face.” Just choose me, Bruce. Show me you still care. I’m scared, Dad. I don’t want him to hurt me anymore.“One…two… the–”

A batarang flew through the air, ricocheting off the wall and embedding itself into Jason’s neck.

He shot up clutching his neck…right where there was a scar.

No. It was just a dream. Just a dream. Batman could never. Bruce would never. 

12:23 am. Bruce probably wasn’t back from patrol yet, but Jason needed him. He needed to hear his voice, deep and soothing. He needed to feel his embrace knowing that he would protect him no matter what. Jason went to the library and waited for him

He heard Damian’s door close first, around two, and then Cass’s door further down the hall. 

Ok, so they were coming back. It shouldn’t take Bruce too long. 

It was just a dream. Why would Jason be holding a gun up to the Joker’s head? Why would he be asking Bruce to kill him?

By the time Tim got back to his room it was close to four in the morning and Jason had gotten halfway through Hamlet. Then Dicks door closed. 

Any minute now. Bruce should be coming up soon. Then thirty minutes passed, then an hour, then two, and when it turned seven, Jason was done waiting. He stormed down to the kitchen. 

It was Saturday morning, in a house filled with vigilantes, and Duke knew no one would be up. Not even Alfred. He wouldn’t be up until 9:00. Except today was his hair care day. Which was why he was up at 7:00 in the morning, nursing a cup of coffee. So was he startled when Jason came down, cursing in Spanish, looking like he got zero sleep? Yes. 

Though Jason stopped in his tracks when he realized he wasn’t alone. 

Duke knew that no one would be up until at least 12, and maybe it would be a bad idea to leave Jason alone to brood. “I have some errands to run… wanna come?”

All Jason did was shrug. 

Duke learned very early on while living at the manor that Alfred did not know how to cut black hair. And his old barber got caught in a rouge attack, so Duke just decided to grow his hair out. Then he figured out that cowls don’t fit the same when you’ve grown out your 4b hair. So he had gotten into the habit of twisting or braiding his hair on the last Saturday of every month. 

Jason probably knew that too. His hair was a little looser than Duke’s, but he still had 3c hair. Duke kinda figured the reason why Jason switched from the helmet to the hood every couple of months is so his hair doesn’t take up space in the helmet. 

They drove down to the Narrows, because that’s where the strip mall with the hair and beauty store and the convenience store is. 

“Do you… wanna tell me what’s going on?” Jason had been quiet for most of the car ride, and yeah, maybe Jason was just… quiet as a kid, but currently it was a sad kind of quiet.

Jason shrugged, “I’m just being dumb. I feel like Bruce is ignoring me, but Bruce is probably just busy now. A lot busier.”

Duke had to suppress the urge to flinch, because Bruce was definitely avoiding Jason now. After getting the news from Constantine that they were playing russian roulette with magic and Jason’s life, Bruce had shut down, and then rebooted as Batman. “I mean, he is trying to find a witch with a stick. He’s in Batman mode.”

Jason nodded, “I know. But I don’t want Batman, I just want Bruce.” 

Duke pulled into a parking space, and turned to face him. “Jason, I think you should tell him that. Or at least, physically drag him. Bruce probably needs that.”

He gave him a tiny smile, and then looked to the shop, “What’re we here to get?”

Duke tugged at one of his twists, “Gotta re-do my hair. The cowl of my suit doesn’t really fit with my fro, and I love Alfred, but the first time he cut my hair I had…”

“So many ingrown hairs.” Janson visibly cringed, “...My mami used to help me maintain my hair. She used to do little braids, but then she couldn’t. And I never learned, so it was usually really frizzy. So I started using pomade.” 

Duke patted his shoulder, “Well, I’m not the best, but I can teach you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, man. You taught me how to kick-ass. It’s only fair if I teach you how to do your hair.”

All Duke needed from the Hair and Beauty store was some mousse, but he let Jason pick out a couple of hair accessories.

“Oh my god, Duke. Duke, Duke, Duke.” Jason tapped his arm to get his attention, “They have little bats on them!” Jason held a package of hair rings that had different bat charms on them. And by bat charms, they weren’t like halloween bats, they were ‘Bats and Birds’ themed, with each of their bat-symbols. 

He picked up another set and looked over all the charms again, “I think the Signal ones glow in the dark.”

Jason cupped his hand over the charm and peeked into the mini cave he made, “That’s so cool.” Then he looked up and frowned, and motioned for Duke to lean in, “Which charm belongs to who?”

Duke couldn’t help but laugh, because of course no one told Jason which identity belongs to who, “I’ll tell you when we get home. The ones that glow in the dark are mine, though.”

Jason grinned and they went to check out.

Then they went to the convenience store, got a bunch of different types of chips, and headed back to the manor.

“Ok, So, let me get this straight. Cass was Orphan, then Batgirl, and now she’s Black Bat. Stephanie was Spoiler, then Robin, then Spoiler, now Batgirl. Tim’s Red Robin? That’s lacking creativity.”

There was a scoff that came from the kitchen, “Hey! It was between that and Drake.”

“Why didn’t you go with Drake?” Jason paused, “Ok, I get that’s your old last name, but that’s perfect. No one would think it’s you because it would completely ruin the point of a secret identity. Also, whenever a villain’s on a monologue–” Jason snickered, “You could quack at people.”

“That’s just–”

“QUACKKK!”Maybe Jason getting no sleep was catching up to him. Oh well, at least he was being silly and not upset. 

Duke set down a bag of plain potato chips for Tim, “I hate to break it to ya Tim, but you have to let go of Robin. Time to stop tweeting and start quacking.” 

“I-” “Quack!” Did Duke actually think that Drake was better than Red Robin? No. They were both equally bad. He just found it really funny. “Come on Jason.”

Jason found that doing his hair did a really good job at distracting from the dream he had last night and fact that Bruce was ign- nope, busy. He’s just busy. 

After Jason got the general motion down—twist left, cross left, on the left half of his head, and the opposite on the other half— he and Duke just started talking. Jason asked questions about his powers, and Duke didn’t seem upset by them, and then they started talking about different books, how much they did or didn’t like them, and before he knew it, Duke was finished with his whole head, and was munching on a bag of pretzels. 

Jason was done with the front portion of his head, but his arms were getting  sore and the mirror was making him mix up his left from his right. 

He felt his eyes start to burn as the twist he was currently working on came unraveled. Why couldn’t he do this? 

“Hey, it’s ok, man. The back is always the hardest part.” Duke threw out the bag and washed his hands, “Why don’t you take a little break. I can take over.”

Duke's fingers gently parted and twisted Jason’s hair, and if he closed his eyes, he could almost imagine mami, eyes bright, heart and spirit strong. 

Jason locked eyes with Duke through the mirror, “This is the first time we’re doing this together, right?”

Duke gave him a small smile, “Yeah. It’s been nice too. Every time I do my hair, it reminds me of my mom. It's usually in a melancholy way, but with you here, it’s more…”

“Reassuring.”  It was like Duke knew exactly what he was thinking. “Like, even though she’s not here, she’s still here.”

He nodded, and as Duke finished the last twist, Jason could see the grief flash across his face, until it was replaced with something more hopeful, and then determination, “We’re doing this again. Next month. We can do it at your place if you want to, but we’re doing this again .” 

Jason turned around and smirked, “You really thought this would be a one time thing?”

“It better not be.”

Because everyone woke up at different times, there wasn’t really a set lunch time, but everyone was there for dinner. Everyone except for Bruce. Again.

Maybe Jason would’ve been fine with that, if it wasn’t for the fact that he hadn’t seen Bruce at all.

“Hey Alfred, is Bruce in the cave?”

Alfed set down a bowl of roasted vegetables on the table with a sigh, “Yes, Master Jason.”

“Great. I’ll go get him.” and he got up and headed towards the cave.

He heard the sound of chair legs scraping against the floor, “Jason, hold up,”

Nope. Dick wasn’t going to stop him.

He got to the bottom of the staircase and froze when he caught sight of Bruce. Of Batman . Even though it had been hours since he had woken up from the nightmare, the image of him throwing the batarang, the feeling of the blade digging into his skin felt almost like a memory.

Jason crossed his arms, “You’re breaking rules #1 and #2.”

Batman stared blankly at him, and Christ on a stick, he did not get any sleep did he? “How–”

“You left me with the batcomputer unsupervised.” Jason gave Bruce his best imitation of Alfred’s you’ve messed up ™ look. 

Not that Bruce was even looking at him. It was like the first night all over again. Jason rubbed the scar on his neck before marching up to Batman, “Cowl off.”

Batman didn’t even dignify him with a response. 

“I want Bruce, not Batman.”

They held each other's gaze, and for a second, Jason thought Bruce was just going to turn right back around, but he didn’t. He reached up and pulled down the cowl, revealing his eyebags to be darker than usual, and his eyes were slightly pink. 

Probably from looking at the computer all day, because Batman doesn’t cry. 

Though Bruce was currently looking at him with a look of concern. “Are you ok, Jason?”

“No. I’m upset with you.” Jason took a step forward, because Bruce was somehow less intimidating than Batman. Even though they were the same person. “You do realize your brooding has an effect on other people, right? Because you kinda just left in the middle of my mystical diagnosis, and you didn’t even bother telling me when the effects would wear off. And I was waiting for you, ya know? In the library, but you never came up because you were busy brooding, and I haven’t seen you the entire day, and I wasn’t sure if I did something wrong—“

“No! No. You didn’t do anything wrong.” Bruce cupped his face, “Jay, lad, did you wait the entire night for me?”

He looked away. 

“I just got caught up in everything. I didn’t mean to make you feel like you didn’t matter to me. Because you do.  I don’t think words could describe just how important you are to me.”

Jason wrapped his arms around Bruce’s torso, “I know. I know. I just… had a bad dream last night, and I really— I just wanted to see you.” He murmured into the armor. 

He felt Bruce’s arms wrap around his shoulders, “I’m here now. What do you need from me?”

“I’m still upset with you, but if you come up for dinner and then watch a movie with us, maybe I could forgive you.”

Jason pulled away and Bruce took him in, “I like your hair by the way. Are those little bats?”

Jason grinned and nodded, “Duke and I are matching. The Signal ones glow in the dark.”

Dick was pretty sure everyone in the manor could tell that Bruce was starting to go on a downward spiral. So imagine their shock when Jason got him out from the batcave. Not only that, but Jason had also somehow managed to convince Bruce to join them for movie night. Bruce hasn’t joined them for a movie night, unless it was the end, in years, but hey, Dick wasn’t complaining. Just suddenly reminded of the fact that Jason was definitely the favorite at this age. 

“What movie should we watch?” Dick jumped over the back of the couch and grabbed the remote. 

Tim flopped onto the loveseat, but then sat up so Cass could sit behind him. “If you try to get us to watch another Disney movie, I’m leaving.” 

Jason turned his head to Dick so fast, he was afraid he would get whiplash, “You never wanna watch musicals when I suggest them.”

…and yeah, Dick stopped watching musicals by the time he was 14 and thought he was too cool to watch them whenever Jason wanted to watch them. It’s just, after Jason had died, and Dick was missing him, he would go on a Disney movie marathon, or watch any of the musicals Jason had suggested, but Dick had just scoffed at at the time. Now they had become Dicks comfort movies “You’ve converted me”

“So you’re saying, if I asked you to put on Frozen—“

“I’d ask one or two.”

He saw the realization settle on Jason’s face, “it’s 2023. That means Frozen II has been out for four years.”

Damian groaned, “We are not watching Frozen II. If I have to listen to Richard shriek Into the Unknown I will peel my ears from my head.”

“What about The Lion King.” Jason suggested. 

Duke shrugged, “As long as it’s not the live action.”

Jason looked bewildered “There’s a live action?”

“It’s not good. And we’re not watching the Lion King, Dick is going to sob at Mufasas death, and then we have to pause it.” Tim reached for the blanket that was draped over the arm of the sofa, “What about Jurassic Park?”

“Drake, we’ve seen that as many times as we’ve seen Tangled.”

“So? I don’t see you coming up with any suggestions.”

“All of my suggestion are always vetoed by Father or Richard.”

“Wait, can we watch Tangled?”

“No. Dick will sing every single song.” Duke hopped into the armchair. 

“Hey! That entire soundtrack is elite.”

“ Mother knows best, At Last I see the Light, I Have a dream? Top tier.”

“See, Jason gets me.” Dick placed his legs on Jason’s lap, but he shoved them off. 

“No. Dick, you don’t get to say that after saying that Beaty and the Beast was a little kids movie. Do you know how much that hurt my heart and soul?” Jason put a hand to his chest and leaned into Bruce, “Tell him, old man.”

Bruce almost had a fond look on his face, “That we should watch Beauty and the Beast?”

Tim shook his head, “Nope, Dick will pull one of us in to Waltz with him.”

Cass giggled, “I think it’s fun.”

“Yeah but then the rest of us can’t watch.”

Bruce reached over and snatched the remote out of Dicks hand, “I’ve got an idea.”

“If it’s James Bond, I’m doing whatever stunts are done in the movie next time I’m out on patrol.”

“Jason, you already make it a point to do one movie stunt per patrol. Where do you think most of B’s gray hairs come from?” 

Jason shrugged, “Damian.”

“Todd!”

Duke smirked, “Nah, Damian’s the cause of Dicks gray hairs.”

“I do not have gray hair!”

“It’s ok, Dickiebird. It’s normal for 30 year olds to have gray hair.”

“Oh my god! Jason. I’m not 30! I’m 27.”

Bruce ended up putting on Mission Impossible. Mostly because he knew he could finish the mission before Tom Cruise did, but also because he could tell that Jason didn’t get any sleep, and he finds action movies boring. And sure enough, not even halfway through the movie, he felt Jason slump onto his shoulder. 

Bruce knew that the rest of his kids were taking pictures, and he also knew that Jason probably would hate all of them by the time he was back to normal. 

If he went back to normal. 25/25/50 chance . It wasn’t good odds. At all. What if Bruce didn’t have the chance to mend his relationship with him? What if 20 year old Jason died thinking that Bruce didn’t care about him? What if—

The Kremlin exploded on screen, and suddenly, Jason was feeling too limp on his shoulder. 

No. No no no no no. 

The air felt thick like smoke was filling the air. The only thing he could see was the rubble of a warehouse. The only thing he could see was his son, limp, beaten and bloody. The green of his suit soaked brown, the yellow cape splattered red.

No. Jason was alive. 

Bruce placed his hand on Jason’s wrist, and felt for a pulse. 

It was there. Beating strong. 

Slowly the air became less thick, and he realized that Tom Cruise was sneaking out of a hospital building. 

Magic really sucks. 

[thatrandomartistjavi]

Actors that were in Alice in Wonderland media and where you might know them better from. Part 1: 1930s-1960s

This has been something that I've been wanting to do for a bit. Specifically in video mode but I also wanted to put it in text form for people who don't have Tiktok(because YouTube will not let me post a video with the amount of clips from different movies). While I did try to put everyone here, I probably won't identify every actor from all medias or even know their roles. I also excluded actors where I legitimetly didn't know who the characters were in movie and also one time appearances in outside shows. So please refrain from being annoying in these posts.

Part 1(you're here!!)| Part 2 | Part 3

1933-

Roscoe Ates as the Fish Footman: Roscoe from Freaks William Austin as the Gryphon: Alfred from Batman(1943) Raymond Hatton as the Mouse: Gringoire from Hunchback of Notre Dame(1923) Sterling Holloway as the Frog Footman: Winnie the Pooh from The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Kaa from The Jungle Book Adult Flower from Bambi Roquefort from The Aristocats Ethel Griffies as Ms. Simpson(Alice's governess): Mrs. Bundy from The Birds Billy Barty as the Pig Baby: Bait Mouse from The Rescuers Down Under

1949-

Felix Aylmer as Dr. Liddell/Cheshire Cat: The Narrator from The Thief and the Cobbler

1951-

Kathryn Beaumont as Alice: Wendy Darling from Peter Pan Ed Wynn as the Mad Hatter: Uncle Albert from Mary Poppins Richard Hadyn as the Caterpillar: Max Detweiler from The Sound of Music Herr Falkstein from Young Frankenstein Verna Felton as the Queen of Hearts: Mrs. Jumbo from Dumbo The Fairy Godmother from Cinderella Flora from Sleeping Beauty Aunt Sara from Lady and the Tramp Winnifred from The Jungle Book Pearl Slaghoople from The Flintstones J. Pat O'Malley as the Tweedles: Cyril Proudbottom from The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad Jasper Baddun from 101 Dalmatians Colonel Hathi from The Jungle Book Bill Thompson as the White Rabbit/Dodo: Mr. Smee from Peter Pan Jock from Lady and the Tramp King Hubert from Sleeping Beauty Professor Owl from The Magical World of Disney(Tho most people know this character better as the guy who starts those sing along tapes/dvds) Scrooge McDuck from Scrooge McDuck and Money Uncle Waldo from The Aristocats Heather Angel as Alice's Sister: Mrs. Darling from Peter Pan Sterling Holloway as the Cheshire Cat: Winnie the Pooh from The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Kaa from The Jungle Book Adult Flower from Bambi Roquefort from The Aristocats Queenie Leornard as Bird in tree/Iris: Princess from 101 Dalmatians Doris Lloyd as The Red Rose: Baroness Eberfield from The Sound of Music Jimmy MacDonald as Dormouse: Dopey from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Bongo/Lumpjaw from Fun and Fancy Free The first voice for Chip the chipmunk The voice for Mickey Mouse after Walt Disney Jaq/Gus/Bruno from Cinderella Thurl Ravenscroft as one of the card gardeners: (Note: All of The Mellomen played these gardeners and they have been in other Disney movies as background singers like the pirates in Peter Pan or the dogs in Lady and the Tramp, Thurl did the most when it comes to significant roles so I'm only gonna count him on this list) Captain the Horse from 101 Dalmatians Singer in You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch Thing 1 from The Cat in the Hat Kirby from The Brave Little Toaster Fritz from The Enchanted Tiki Room Uncle Theodore from Haunted Mansion Tony the Tiger Geoffrey the Giraffe

1955-

Elsa Lanchester as the Red Queen: The Bride from The Bride of Frankenstein Katie Nanna from Mary Poppins J. Pat O'Malley as the Tweedles: Cyril Proudbottom from The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad Jasper Baddun from 101 Dalmatians Colonel Hathi from The Jungle Book Alice Pearce as the Dormouse: Gladys Kravitz from Bewitched Tom Bosley as the Knave of Hearts: Maurice from The Beauty and the Beast(1994 musical) Karl Swenson as Humpty Dumpty: Merlin from The Sword in the Stone

BBC(1966)-

Peter Cook as the Hatter: The Impressive Clergyman from The Princess Bride Peter Sellers as the King of Hearts: Inspector Jacques Clouseau from The Pink Panther(1963) Michael Gough as the March Hare: Alfred Pennyworth from Burton Batman and its sequels Elder Gutknecht from Corpse Bride David Battley as the Executioner: Mr. Turkentine from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Through the Looking Glass(1966)-

Jimmy Durante as Humpty Dumpty: Narrator from Frosty the Snowman Agnes Moorehead as the Red Queen: Endora from Bewitched Jack Palance as the Jabberwock: Carl Grissom from The Batman(1989) Sir Rothbart from The Swan Princess(1994) Ricardo Montalbán as the White King: Grandpa Valentin Avellan from Spy Kids Khan Noonien Singh from Star Trek II- Wrath of Khan

What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This(The New Alice in Wonderland)(1966)-

Daws Butler as King of Hearts/March Hare: Yogi Bear from The Yogi Bear Show Elroy Jetson from The Jetsons Chilly Willy from The Woody Woodpecker Show(1964) The Fish(Karlos K. Krinklebein) from The Cat in the Hat Sammy Davis Jr. as the Cheshire Cat(movie): Josh Howard from Ocean's 11 Scatman Crothers as the Cheshire Cat(record): Scat Cat from The Aristocats Dick Hallorann from The Shinning Jazz from The Transformers(1984) Allan Melvin as Alice's Father/Humphrey Dumpty: Electro from Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends Don Messick as Dormouse/Fluff: Bamm-Bamm Rubble from The Flintstones Boo-Boo Bear from The Yogi Bear Show Astro from The Jetsons Snip from Rankin Bass' Jack Frost Ratchet from The Transformers(1984) Scooby-Doo from Scooby-Doo(until his retirement in 1996) Howard Morris as the White Rabbit: Gopher from The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Jughead Jones from The Archie Show(1968) Janet Waldo as Alice: Judy Jetson from The Jetsons Josie from Josie and the Pussycats

Alice of Wonderland in Paris(1966)-

Norma MacMillan as Alice: Casper from The New Casper Cartoon Show Gumby from The Gumby Show

[thenotebookwizard]

Fandom & Poetry

Or - Everything Everyone Wanted Me To Know I Learned From Fandom (part one - maybe)

I have no idea if I've already posted this to tumblr. If I have, oops. If not, I probably should have.

There's a list. It's a real list, but it changes. Things get added and erased and moved on it all the time when you're not looking, and no one ever seems to have a complete copy of it. But it is a very important list none the less, and it is a list everyone is supposed to be familiar with.

There are, in fact, pop quizzes and final exams about this list.

Sometimes, the list is full of things we were supposed to learn in school. Sometimes, it's full of things you should never learn in school.

Most of the time, the list is populated and curated by the strongly held and oft-expressed opinions of people older and wiser or younger and zanier than you are.

But it is a list we all judged by.

The list of Things People Are Supposed to Know. Or, rather, I should say 'things people who grew up in America' are supposed to know and/or be familiar enough to convincingly pretend they know.

If I'm being honest, I didn't learn any of it in school, but I did learn most of it from fandom.

Poetry

So, every kid in America who has gone to public school has been told to read and/or write a poem from time to time. Every teacher and textbook has a different interpretation of each poem, and each new poem feels more daunting and confusing than the one before. Sometimes, we have to read stories that really just long poems about wars and wooden horses and self-insert OCs diving through the layers of hell to find out what the fuck is wrong with people. (And, of course, failing to do so despite getting a fairly hefty balance of cosmic reward miles.)

For most of us, poetry is hard and confusing. While I've never met an English teacher who didn't love the mandatory yearly poetry unit, I have often wondered how much of that enthusiasm is just great acting and how much of it is real.

But the truth is it barely matters (to me), because I already rather like poetry. I'm not too bad at reading it, even if I am terrible at writing it.

So far, anyway.

Of course, if not for fandom, I never would have gotten into poetry. I never would have read Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Seamus Heaney, or William Butler Yeats. Or anyone else, for that matter.

It started, as most things did for me, with a Star Trek book. Dreadnought! by Diane Carey - one of the Star Trek books by Pocket Books. It was published in 1990, and is in now way canonical to the *Star Trek* universe. Very few of those books are. It is, for all intents and purposes, professional fanfiction.

(Which, of course, I consider to be pretty awesome.)

I loved that book. It was one of the first first-person narratives I really got into, and it was interesting for 5th-grade me to read from the perspective of a young adult woman. I devoured that book.

And then, in the middle of all my snarky action and cool new characters (OC for the win!), the main character's trusty Vulcan best friend gave her a book of poems. And wouldn't you know it, the author, Diane Carey, had gone and written a poem.

And put it right in her book. The characters even had a moment reading the poem.

So, I read the poem. Well, I tried really hard to read the poem. My eyes kinda skimmed over it the first time. And the second time. Dyslexia was winning, and my brain didn't want to accept the new input of poetry. It had already allowed me prose, hadn't it? What was this new nonsense!

I persevered. This wasn't a regular poem. It was a Star Trek poem in one of my precious Star Trek novels - the reading of which was my victory. I had overcome dyslexia and learned to read so I could read the same Star Trek books my Mom read.

I read the poem. I read it again. And again. I can't say that is would have spoken to me if I knew more about poetry or if I weren't a *Star Trek* fanboy and completely unapologetic about loving things just because they were Star Trek.

"Explorations" by Lyras From DREADNOUGHT by Diane Carey This is the sixth element, Time crossing time until all stands still and we may think Study, but touch Learn, and later know Tame the craggy agonies of toil's time memory and memoring come late Comes shattery, scattery When all is lost, it is not to die - It is to die well.

And in middle school, when we were assigned to read poems, I knew I could read poetry. I didn't go into it worried that I couldn't or that I would get stuck and stymied as I had by some of the nonfiction I'd been assigned.

I did okay in that poetry unit. I even used the poem from Dreadnought and my teacher was (mostly) okay with it once I showed her the book and the context.

Later when classes wanted us to read poems we had never read before. I could have lied and said I just discovered it, but that wouldn't have worked out well.

Instead, I turned to the gospel of space opera - in this case, the annals of Babylon 5 - then, a fresh new series on TV with groundbreaking special effects telling long-form stories. One of the main characters read a poem.

The Second Coming by Yeats became one of my favorite poems almost overnight. Not only is the imagery rich and powerful and moving, but it had been read by a character on one of my favorite TV shows. One of the only TV shows I really made time to watch, because I really didn't have a lot of TV time. I made sure to pick and choose the best shows. (Even as an adult, I think I chose the best shows.)

Finding that poem in the library was easy. Finding other poems wasn't hard, either. When our Professor was fussing at us to find a nice, long story poem that wasn’t' Dante or Milton to read and study was proving hard. I liked Milton and had some strong feelings about Dante - and both of those esteemed literary giants were awesome, because they wrote Bible fanfic AUs and were beloved by literature professors and English teachers alike. I always felt like I was getting away with something when I used one for an assignment.

But then, Star Trek delivered unto me a new poem, providing answers for me - as it always has. Chief O'brien and Doctor Bashir, history buffs and re-enactors extraordinaries, spoke a rather epic poem as the USS DEFIANT flew into a hopeless battle.

I had a few lines. Those lines, and the nascent power of early search engines, turned up the name of the poem: Charge of the Light Brigade.

My professor was thrilled when I worked on Tennyson. When I painted a picture of futile honor, noble sacrifice, and the terrible tides of war in a paper that was almost completely based on a few minutes of a DEEP SPACE NINE episode.

It got a great grade on that paper. I got the respect of a Professor who for real and for true loved poetry as he loved few other things. I was given praise and was told that I had a rare gift for seeing into the heart of poetry.

Not true.

I just have a vast store of fandom knowledge rattling around in my otherwise empty mind, and I a great love of dramatic last stands.

Fandom taught me about poetry. Because of how those stories used poems. Because of how those stories were told and because of what the poems meant to those characters in those moments.

Fandom has taught me almost everything I know, most of what I never wanted to know, and almost all of the things that most people wish I didn't know.

It has also given me poetry.

Who says fandom teaches nothing, and is just a pale imitation of real literature? That these shows and books don't teach or enlighten or enrich.

Even though they really, really do.

[twittercomfrnklin2001-blog]

M

The best film I watched in August and probably the whole year will probably be a no brainer since I showed a friend Fritz Lang’s M (1931, Max, Prime) last night. Lang’s first sound film was a breakthrough in its use of tracking shots and a musical leitmotif to tell the tale of the hunt for a child killer (Peter Lorre) by the police on one side and the criminal underworld on the other. The film’s cynical view of power structures and cinematographer Fritz Arno Wagner’s painting with light and shadow would become major influences on the rise of film noir in the 1940s, while, with Alfred Hitchcock’s THE LODGER (1927), M would inspire decades of police procedurals with its panoramic view of the social effect of Lorre’s crimes. It also contains an unforgettable performance by the actor, who manages to make his character both animalistic and surprisingly sympathetic. His climactic monolog, delivered to a kangaroo court of criminals whose livelihood has been threatened by the police search for him, is one of the greatest acting moments on screen.

What surprised me on re-viewing the film for the first time in years was how much humor Lang had injected into the film. Scenes of the public panic, as anybody seen talking to a child or in police custody is presumed to be the killer, are mordantly funny, while the quirks of the various legal and criminal authority figures create a great gallery of comic grotesques.

As an early talkie, the film maintains a lot of the visual story telling of the silent era. You can tell the washerwoman featured early on is the mother of young Elsie just from the way Lang cuts between the two, and Elsie’s death is communicated through simple details — her ball rolling across the grass and the balloon Lorre had bought her tangled in some power lines.

Lang also uses editing for social criticism, as he repeatedly cuts between a criminal meeting to discuss the murder investigation and a meeting of the city’s leaders. This is one of the film’s most subversive elements, the equation of the city government and police force with the criminal underworld. Is there that much difference between the police indiscriminately raiding underworld hangouts and the criminals breaking into an office building and torturing the night watchman? And when Elsie’s mother says at the end, “One needs to keep closer watch over our children, all of you!” the film becomes almost prescient, or at least benefits from our knowledge of the children (and adults) who would be slaughtered when the Third Reich came into power.

[trust-and-jump]

"Call me Mystery" by Lilse - fic rec for those who can live without physical whump and canon-like action

okay but Call Me Mystery by Lilse has so many comments and is so interesting to discuss. Like. Author writes the dialogues and thoughts very cool. There is not much action in the fic, but it sure as hell has a lot of very intense stuff. I like it even more than the first part in the series. Lol Good Parent Bruce Wayne trope doesn't ruin it. And ROTATED CHARACTER POV! IT'S NOT! CENTERED! ON ONE! CHARACTER! it's nice. There is no one character in the center! They all get their chapters and you can't even separate them and skip to what you like. It's a complicated net. With holes, a little. But interesting and evolving.

The thing is, this story is not focused on how bad some people and actions are, and there is no character bashing. The story is focused on dialogues and misunderstandings and relationships of this very unusual family. And not what's good for vigilantes but what's good for them as people.

Characters: Bruce, Dick, Damian, Jason, Tim, Alfred. And young Dick and Jason from parallel universe, who named themselves John and Peter (second names).

(certainly not for people who thinks canon-only, but I don't see here any of very annoying fanon tropes and interpretations!!!!!!! or maybe I am biased because I'm following this story a long time already and not planning to drop it at all)

it's not like it's the best fic I love the most. And it's certainly not perfect. But it's something close and warm to me - because of how much work Lilse puts in there, and because of the way Lilse interacts with the readers. And the fact that, despite not really knowing canon, Lilse is not very biased and, in my opinion, all the characters in Call Me Mystery are valid. Well, Alfred is not enough there, but he has an excuse hshskaldhslamdpdpdlsfppff. Also Dick and Jason trying to be responsible adults and sometimes failing miserably - nice. And Jason's lemonades. And Dick's temper and tiredness. Tim has a bad time, but he's not woobified at all. And the fact that I finally, finally realised that this story has Bruce angst (for some reason I didn't notice it for very long time but now my eyes are open, I finally imagined myself in his place in this story). And. And. And Damian - I have no words,

Unfortunately, the characters outside of the listed are not mentioned (well, Gordon is, and someone else, but no other vigilantes or superheroes have attention). Cass and Duke probably don't exist here, bc Bruce doesn't mention them in his thoughts. That's okay, that's much better than showing some half-assed versions of them like some people do.

okay I have MUCH more to say about this fic but it doesn't matter what I think, because I would just write and write and write and write and it would be too long.

[yall-imhere]

Batman - Study in the Scarlet Gallery (Batman/Bruce Wayne x Fem!OC) Part 1

This is the first time I posted a short story on Tumblr, I usually post on Wattpad but when I saw one of my favorite Batfam fanfic writers's main platform is here, and I made a Tumblr profile to read more of her works. Then I wanna try posting here too :) for a change of scenery.

Synopsis: Third year as Batman, Bruce come to a mystery that hits closer to home. And one that Batman alone cannot solve -- he will need to be both Batman and Bruce Wayne to find out the truth that Gotham has buried for the past six years and is being pulled into the light by a mysterious woman seeking vengeance.

The first time Bruce Wayne met Sienna Fallbrook was during a gala at the Fallbrook estate for an art gallery charity; the patriarch of the family, Sheldon Fallbrook, was a fan of the arts and often hosted his charities in the themes of artworks. At that time Bruce was young, probably six years old, and was normally left at home with their family butler, Alfred, whenever an invitation is extended to the Waynes but this time Sheldon Fallbrook insisted on having the boy over by telling the Waynes, “it’s about time the little ones get to know one another, get to know the business – we won’t be alive forever, you know!” 

While it wasn’t a strong reason to have young Bruce Wayne into the gala, it was what Sheldon added that changed Martha Wayne’s mind in the matter: “My little girls will be there too, Rebecca and little Sienna.”

“I think it would be a good idea, Thomas,” Martha told her husband.”We should let Bruce meet other kids his age.”

Bruce frowned at that statement. Not too long ago, his childhood friend, Thomas Eliot, became distant to Bruce after the latter promised him that Dr. Wayne can save both his parents from their injuries that they got from an accident, but in the end it was only Eliot’s mother who survived and Thomas Eliot hated Bruce for giving him such hope. Since then Thomas Eliot hasn’t shown himself to Bruce and refuses to reach out again. Or maybe it was because of Thomas Eliot’s mother, who became more recluse after the accident.

After that there weren’t many kids that Bruce hung out with. Though he was quite popular in school, given his looks and name, he was more of an introvert and would rather be in the library reading books.

It took Martha a few more convincing arguments before Thomas finally looked down at his son and asked, “do you want to go to the gala, Bruce?”

Bruce looked at his father and then saw his mother’s sincere smile. This was for him. What she was doing was good for him. No mother would want to hurt their child, right? Besides, his parents never made him do what he didn’t want to. Unless he was grounded for breaking house rules.

“Do you have snacks at the gala?” Bruce asked Sheldon directly.

The three adults laughed wholeheartedly, and Mr. Fallbrook said, “why yes! And what snack would you want there?”

Bruce thought long and hard before answering, “those small cheeseburgers, like what Alfred makes me at home!”

Another laugh. 

“Well, I can’t promise it’ll be as good as the ones the good old Alfred makes, but I can get a couple of little cheeseburgers for you,” he made a small measurement with his finger and thumb. “Alright, kiddo, see you there. Rebecca and Sienna would be happy to see you!” Then Fallbrook said to his parents, “and don’t forget your checks. It’s still a charity event after all.”

The night of the gala, Alfred helped Bruce prepare – helping him into the new suit his parents had custom-made to fit him perfectly. It was in the shade of dark blue (Martha thought black was a little too serious for a child), with a matching bowtie, shined shoes, and –

“Flowers?” Bruce wondered when Alfred placed the boutonniere on his left breast pocket.

“A boutonniere, Young Master Bruce. It’s a common accessory for formal events, and tonight, you are going to one.”

Bruce sighed as Alfred fixed the white carnation flower on his chest and let the man finish his work. “Do you know the Fallbrooks, Alfred?”

“Not intimately, Sir. Just the basics.” Meaning whatever everyone has seen on the papers. The founder and faces of Fallbrook Conglomerate. One of Gotham’s rich and powerful families, but not as rich and powerful as the Waynes; the Fallbrooks were not part of the five major families that built Gotham, they grew their wealth during the mid-18th century during the Industrial Revolution, and during the war Fallbrook Industries – as it was called then – supplied the weapons during the wars.

Then there was the family.  Sheldon Fallbrook, a true-born Gothamite and the current head of the family and CEO of the company, married to a Spanish-heiress whose family thought Gotham was their next venture but ended up eaten by Gotham’s corruption. 

It was Sheldon Fallbrook who saved them when he married Laura Alegria and took their company under the Fallbrook’s. Aside from gaining a place in the hospitality and entertainment industry, the union gave the couple two daughters, Rebecca and Sienna Fallbrook. Two girls who were around Bruce’s age with the former being his age, and the latter a couple of years young. 

Two girls. 

Though he never had anything against girls, he remembered the girls in his school and the things they do for “fun”. He wasn’t quick to judge but Bruce wasn’t “into” those types of things.

His face must have given away his thoughts because Alfred chuckled, pulling him from his train of thoughts, and said, “You better learn how to hide what you're thinking from showing on your face, Young Master Bruce! But do not worry, I’m sure you’ll get along with the Fallbrook girls. You’d be surprised, you might find a friend at this gala. Just keep an open mind.”

“Alright, Alfred,” Bruce said and got off the step he was on to help the butler with his height.

After a goodbye to Alfred, and reminding him to get some rest, the Waynes drove off to main Gotham – specifically, Gotham Heights. One of the places in Gotham that had less crime-rates. With their wealth, the Fallbrooks would have been able to purchase land at Bristol, on the mainland and the outskirts of Gotham, away from the crime-ridden city, but they chose to be at the heart of it all. 

Fallbrook manor was large, much like the lots in Gotham Heights. Its brick fences are high with spear-like gates to keep away tempted robbers, and inside was a large garden with a road that leads to the manor that had a mix of Georgian and a Spanish villa architecture. Thoman commented that the Mexican villa theme happened when Laura Fallbrook nee’ Alegria moved in, and Martha noted how she would love to have those smooth stucco and stone exteriors for Wayne Manor too. It made Bruce laugh as his father sighed loudly and he saw his mother wink at his direction jokingly. 

Entering the Fallbrook manor, the Waynes were greeted by the other guests who were close by, all shaking hands with Thomas and Martha, and saying hello to Bruce. Despite not wanting the attention and the urge to hide behind his mother, Bruce kept his facade and greeted the strangers with a good evening. Not long after, the hosts finally came to see them and greeted the Waynes with such familiarity. Sheldon Fallbrook happily patted Thomas at the back, while Laura Fallbrook greeted Martha with a kiss on the cheek. They spoke for a while until the couple took notice of Bruce, and Laura called someone’s name to “bring the girls”. 

From the crowd, a woman – Laura’s lady-in-waiting – came with two girls holding her hands. One was taller than the other but both shared traits, such as their facial traits, olive skin, and physique. One would think they were twins if it weren’t for their age, the only thing that sets them apart were the shades of their hair – Rebecca, the eldest, had a lighter shade of brown, while Sienna, the youngest, had a darker shade – and then their eyes – Rebecca had her father’s brown eyes, while Sienna has her mother’s green eyes.

“These must be the girls,” Martha greeted them fondly. The eldest had no trouble with happily introducing herself, but Sienna. Sienna was a bit shy. She avoided eye-contact and she spoke softly when she said hello. 

She seems much closer to her father as Sheldon knelt down to her height, not caring if he got dust on his trousers, and held his daughter’s hand as encouragement. “How about Bruce? Have you said hello? Come on, doll, I’m sure you remember him?”

Sienna looked up to him and said, “yes,” before hugging her father to hide her face. It made the grown ups laugh.

“I think someone has a little crush,” Laura jests.

Sheldon sighed in defeat when Sienna refused to let go of him. “I was hoping if she met some new faces she’d take a step from her shyness, but I guess she’s still in that stage.”

“Don’t worry, it’ll pass,” said Thomas. “So, when does the auction start? I saw the pamphlet – I can’t believe you put your Gentileschi collection for auction, Sheldon!”

“Well, it’s all for the cause – the money here is set to rebuild the East Side. Fix some homes, make shelter, and establish a public hospital.”

“Anything to help Gotham.”

“Speaking of, the auction will start in a couple of minutes. Please, mingle while you can, I’ll just settle this little one. Hey, Bruce, you can hang out with Rebecca here while the grown ups go to the boring party later. We got the theater here all set up for you kids.”

Bruce nodded and thanked Sheldon before the man left with Sienna in his arms, and his wife leaving with Rebecca. As the family left, though, Bruce saw Sienna raise her head from her father’s shoulder and looked at him. Her face was all red as she waved hello to him. Seeing her effort, Bruce returned the gesture with a smile. 

~*~

The theater room of the Fallbrooks wasn’t as big as Wayne's, but it was cozy with soft chairs that were too big for a child and swallowed him whole, and there was tons of food on their own side tables. 

When the auction was about to start, Bruce was beconned by girls’ nannies to be brought to the theater to watch a movie. He went willingly and was dragged along by Rebecca, while Sienna held the hand of their nanny and walked a few steps behind. Bruce would look back just to check they were still there, and whenever he would Sienna would look away.

Rebecca sat at the center, wanting to be close to Bruce, while her sister trailed to her other side. She went on and on about the movie they were going to watch, but Bruce only nodded but the information flowed right through his ears. When the movie began, Bruce was already half-through his popcorn, so he took one of the mini-cheeseburgers and had some iced tea.

Half-way through the movie he noticed someone’s shadow moving. It was Sienna. The girl whispered to her sister about going to the bathroom, when she was going to ask their nanny, they found the woman fast asleep. When Rebecca did not offer to go with her, Bruce did but the eldest Fallbrook sister said Sienna knew her way around the manor. So he lets the little girl go. 

That is until he noticed the youngest Fallbrook putting mini-cheeseburgers, fries, and cookies to the cloth placemat as a bag then left. A snack on the way there? Was the bathroom that far? 

He doubts it. Bruce saw the bathroom on their way to the theater and it was just a few steps from the room. 

Making an excuse to use the bathroom, Bruce quietly caught up to Sienna. 

He was right. She wasn’t going to the bathroom. Instead, she went through different paths, and Bruce made an effort to keep up with her pace. 

For a five-year-old with short legs, Sienna Fallbrook was fast.

They passed the doors of the room where the auction was being held, he even heard the hammer being pounded as another painting was sold. 

Then he came to the gallery.  The large hall had scarlet doors with gold knobs, a red carpet and there they were… 

The Fallbrook family’s Gentileschi collection, all in golden frames. 

And at the very center was the youngest Fallbrook sitting in the middle of the red carpet, her neck craned up as she looked at one of the paintings while eating the cheeseburgers.

“What are you doing here?” Bruce spoke up as he approached her.

Sienna jumped in his presence. She looked around, hoping no one else was there, and sighed in relief when it was just him.

“They’re going to sell them now,” Sienna spoke softly, disappointment in her voice. “The paintings.”

“Don’t you want to sell them?” Bruce asked. He sat beside her and looked at the painting she was staring at. It was a brutal looking painting with two women holding down and beheading a man while he was in bed. It sent a shiver down Bruce’s spine, and – though he won’t admit it – gave him a fright. “Is this your favorite?”

Sienna nodded. “Mother doesn’t like it… but I do.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. I just do.”

“Doesn’t it scare you?”

Sienna shook her head. “I don’t want him to sell this painting. But they can’t sell the paintings without it.”

Bruce frowned. “Maybe you can ask the person who buys it to let you keep it for a while.”

“Dad said that’s not how business works.”

“Is that why you came out here? To look at it one last time?”

Sienna nodded, she then offered him more mini-cheeseburgers and some fries. Bruce thanked her and took one mini cheeseburger. “Also because I watched that movie a hundred times now. Becca likes it too much. What about you?”

Bruce made a face. “I don’t like it either.”

Sienna snickered and then laughed. Her laugh, and the sight of her smile was infectious that it had Bruce laugh as well. They stayed at the gallery for some time until they had fallen asleep – a food coma. 

Their parents found them, right after the auction, asleep against the wall. Snacks on their laps. And the children snored softly. It was late, and according to one of the staff, Rebecca has retreated to bed right in the middle of the movie too. 

When the parents were to pick them up, Bruce and Sienna woke up and apologized for being in the room. They picked up their food, handing it over to one of the staff standing with their parents, and were about to say goodbye when Bruce asked: “Mr. Fallbrook, who bought that painting?”  he pointed at the one they were looking at earlier.

“I believe it was the Waynes, Sir,” one of the men spoke.

“Do you like it, Bruce?” Martha asked, though she was concerned that her son was looking at something so brutal and horrific. 

Bruce turned to Sienna, who was frowning, “can we… can we not take it just yet?”

“What do you mean?” Thomas asked, worried the boy found the painting a bit scary. Since he was a baby Bruce was scared of a lot of things. Even the sound of bats flying around made him cry back then.

“It’s Sienna’s favorite painting.”

The shock on their faces was mostly at the fact a little girl likes a brutal looking painting with two women decapitating a man. “I – uh…” Thomas was at a loss for words, even Sheldon couldn’t conjure anything.

Sienna then tugged on Bruce’s blazer and said, “it’s okay… you can have it. But can I see it sometime?”

“Of course, you can, Sienna. You’re more than welcome to visit it at our home,” said Martha. “Now, it’s getting late, and you two need to go to bed. I bet you fell asleep because of all the sliders you ate.”

“What are sliders?’ Bruce asked.

“You mean the baby-cheeseburgers?” Sienna added.

The name made Bruce snicker. “Baby-cheeseburgers?”

“Yes, what do you call them?”

“Mini-cheeseburgers.”

“Baby-cheeseburgers sounds better.”

Bruce shrugged. “Thank you for tonight, Mr. Fallbrook.”

“Anytime, boy. Anytime.” Sheldon messed with his hair. 

Turning to Sienna, Bruce was about to hold out his hand – just like how his parents would greet and say goodbye to their guests – but felt it was off to do so. Instead, he looked down at his left breast and saw the ruffled carnations, he took them from his breast pocket and handed it to Sienna. “Thank you for… being a good host,” he said shyly.

Sienna, turned deep red and accepted the small flower.  “Thank you for… coming here tonight. See you at school?”

“But we’re not in the same class.”

“Oh… right.” Why did she have to be younger than him? Sienna thought. If only she was a bit older now.

“I’m sure you both will see each other on campus,” said Martha. “Come along now, Bruce. Sienna needs to get to bed, and so do you.”

“Bye,” Bruce said and left with his parents. He made one last look at the girl’s direction and saw her waving at his way again.

~ Many Years Later ~

Standing at the Fallbrook scarlet-doored gallery, Bruce remembered the time he and that little girl sat there for hours just to look at the painting, which he later learned was called “Judith Slaying Holofernes” by Artemisia Gentileschi. He was just around six years old then, if memory serves him right, and Sienna Fallbrook was the first friend he made again after his and Thomas Eliot’s fallout. They became thick as thieves after that night, then tragedy struck the Waynes.

Bruce’s parents were murdered in Crime Alley, and Bruce isolated himself from everyone around him. Sienna tried to approach him, but he only yelled at her to “get lost” and “never show her face to him again”. She never did – she tried to, but with them both going to Gotham Academy it was hard to not run into each other. 

Remembering all those years made Bruce sigh deeply and rub the bridge of his nose. A mannerism he developed whenever he thought of the things he foolishly did in his youth. 

He wondered if, for a moment, if they both stayed friends. Would she be there at his side now, reminiscing the time they fell asleep on that corner, staring at the painting? Would they still be friends despite his sudden disappearance years ago for his training to be the persona of fear and justice in Gotham? Would he have told her about his other life as a vigilante? 

Probably not.

But all those what ifs only dampened his mood further as he remembered where Sienna Fallbrook was, and it pained him that they were out there – enjoying the wine, eating fancy food – while she was… no one knows where she was now. According to Alfred and the Fallbrooks, Sienna never recovered after her father’s death, she isolated herself and started to act differently. They decided to take her away from Gotham, a change of scenery to help her grieve, but a few months into her stay in Spain (with their relatives there), Sienna disappeared. They searched and searched, but no traces can be found of her and she was presumed dead.

When Bruce heard the news, he found himself heading to his family’s gallery where the Gentilleschi painting hung, thinking about the little girl he befriended because of that painting, and the tragedy that came to her. And the fact  – until now – he wondered why she loved this painting so.

“Bruce!” Rebecca greeted him with a smile. 

“Rebecca, how are you?” Bruce smiled back.

“Oh, you know how tiring these things are.”

“And I thought you were the life of the party?”

“This party though?”

“Not your style?”

“No. But I do enjoy the grandeur.”

“Well,  you and your husband did a good job.”

“Have you chosen what piece you’ll be taking home tonight?”

“I’m still deciding between the Goya and the Varo.”

Rebecca had her arm around his and brought him to where the two paintings were. “You can always take both.”

“That would be greedy of me.”

“It’s a charity, Bruce!”

“By the way – what kind of charity is this, I’d like to know what foundation is hosting this –”

Before Rebecca could answer, a man appeared with open arms and said, “why it’s the Sheldon Fallbrook foundation, Bruce!” 

It was Warren Lawford. Rebecca’s husband, and the current head of Fallbrook Conglomerate. Bruce was never a fan of Warren. He wasn’t one to judge people on first impressions but when Bruce first met Warren Lawford at one of the parties his uncle Philip Kane hosted on his return from being gone for three years, he didn’t like him. And even more when he saw Lawford in one of the Wayne galas treating Alfred with no respect. When he told him off for his behavior, all Lawford said was, “of course, Gotham’s golden boy, Bruce Wayne, the poster boy of the servants and the oppressed. Come on, stop the act of being chummy with the help –” 

That earned a punch across the face. After that, all of the invitations were only for the Fallbrook women and not Warren. 

And Bruce wouldn’t have come tonight if it weren’t for the case he was currently trying to solve. The one that he got a few days ago from Jim Gordon, when a reported breakout in Arkham happened. It was the Riddler who got out, and some other patients. Batman was able to capture most of the criminals but the Riddler is still in hiding.

He has to give it to the man, the Riddler was good at staying out of his radar. 

But weeks after the Arkham breakout, there was a crime that required Batman’s help.

He could still remember the sight of the still living body sitting on the leather armchair, upper-body wrapped in white cloth that made them unable to move, and a pipe with a thumb-sized hole being the only source of air from the duct tape that was wrapped around the man’s face – who they later identified as one of the security guards in Arkham, Lyle Bolton – and written on their face with a red marker was: OPEN YOUR EYES, GOTHAM!

Then pinned to the man’s shoulder, using a nail gun, was an envelope that had records of using excessive force on the patients, and corruption, which Arkham Asylum decided to bury. 

“That’s a bit excessive,”, muttered as he cringed at the sight of the nail pinned to the man’s shoulder.

“The perpetrator didn’t want to do serious damage,” Batman noted as he inspected the wound. Lyle was now knocked out on the chair due to the pain, and was still breathing.

“Didn’t want to do serious damage –” Jim raised a brow at him.

Bollock agreed. “ the perp nailed the message to the guy’s shoulder and I’m pretty sure it went through the bone too.”

“Yes, but aside from that, they didn’t hit any arteries. They wanted to inflict paint. Excruciating pain. Pain that would last a lifetime. But not kill,” Batman pointed out.

“I’ll add that to my list of ‘ways to hurt but not kill people’,” Bollock muttered.

“ Anything else that was left?” Batman continued. 

“Yes. The perpetrator left this,” Jim walked towards the open floor and used a UV light to show the message written with black spray paint:

You give me away by taking me.  And I shall take, and take, and take, and take Until I find ideals that the Lady stands at the mooring. Bolton is the first, and he won’t be the last. Beware the trinity of sea, air, and land.  For justice will come to you that befits your crimes.

2456, 2663 – 0505xx

Finishing the message, Batman turned to Jim, both knowing who they had in mind. But… 

But something wasn’t right.

“They sure do have a lot of paint to write something this long, and patience too,” Bollock noted.

And skill, Bruce thought. The precision in the release of the paint and how the words flowed showed expertise.

“You thinking what I’m thinking?” Jim said to Batman.

“He is the only person that’s not yet been found, and riddles are his M.O.,” Batman said. “I’ll handle this, Jim, something just doesn’t add up… I’ll leave Mr. Bolton to you.”

“Sure,” Jim sighed as he saw the medical team try to remove the duct tape. That’s going to hurt. “I’ll make sure to get these papers escalated. Bolton just lost his luck this time… say, keep me posted on the –” 

The Batman was gone.

“I hate it when he does that…”

After looking into the copy of the reports about Bolton and the message, Batman realized the numbers were a location. Specifically, Fallbrook’s manor, and the numbers at the very end was a date. The very date of Fallbrook's charity event. Batman informed Jim of the findings, and Jim tried to reason with the Fallbrooks to cancel the event but stubborn and proud Lawford said something in the lines of, “the show must go on” and “I’m not afraid of some riddle”.

He should be, Batman thought then. He doubted Lawford could answer one of Riddler’s childish games. 

But Batman agrees with him. They still did not know the perpetrator’s motivation for the crime, and they needed to understand why and what this person has against the Fallbrooks to attack the gala. And why let them know.

Back in Fallbrook’s gallery and Warren talking about the Sheldon Fallbrook charity, Bruce made an excuse to get himself away from the man and started to look around. While it was satisfying to see Warren Lawford be dismissed by Wayne in front of the people he gathered with his loud voice, he did have work to do for his alter-ego. 

The six-line riddle ran through his head, but after a while of trying to figure it out in the Bat-cave, it was Alfred who pointed out the answer to the first line –

“Revenge,” Alfred spoke, catching him by surprise. “The riddle on the first line, it was on last Sunday’s crossword puzzle. Oh my, has the Riddler ran out of riddles that he has resorted to stealing from the Gotham Gazette’s crossword?”

It’s when it hit him. The six-line riddle was made up of riddles.

“You’re a genius, Alfred,” Bruce said as he got to work. And he was sure to have heard the man say, “why, it’s one of the many qualifications for this position – a working brain.”

It was both a message and a riddle – all mixed up to make it look like it was one riddle.

“The first two lines – you give me away by taking me: that’s vengeance. Then the second line repeats four times. Meaning the person will have her revenge four times on four people.” He skipped the third line and proceeded to the fourth. “Bolton is the first, and he won’t be the last – Bolton was known for his violence against the patients in Arkham.”

“Then he must have done something to have the Riddler do such horrific and… painful,” Alfred winced as he looked at the image of the duct taped head of the security guard. “Way to extract revenge.”

“But this isn’t the Riddler’s work. This isn’t his M.O., he’s not one to beat and duct tape someone’s face and leave them breathing through a pipe. Someone is posing as him – using his Riddles to get me and the GCPD off their back.”

Now, Bruce was looking through the galleries, trying to find the answer to the other clues. The third and second to the last line was ominous to him, but he was sure of the last. The truth will come out, and has a feeling that he could find that in Fallbrook manor. 

What was the family hiding? It was hard to believe that the once-happy and innocent Fallbrook family is tied to this vengeance seeking criminal. Everyone’s a suspect until proven guilty. Everything is possible. Those were one of the things he learned in the past three years.

~*~

The auction began and Bruce has yet to find any clue to the riddle. He was forced to sit down with the others and go through the many paintings on the screen and watch as people bid on each piece. When the Goya came to view, Bruce decided to opt for that but then it happened.  

The image where the Goya painting of Saturn eating his children was replaced by the image of another painting. It was a painting that he did not see in the collection, and it was painted by a fellow Gothamite. The painting was of Lady Gotham on Gotham Harbor that was worth about a five million dollars –

A glitch on the screen, and the lights. 

Many gasped and were starting to panic.

And then…

The lights remained lit and the screen now showed the painting was shown – the actual one – and on the canvas, sprayed with red paint, were the words: the one thing that Gotham doesn’t have.

Many gasped at the vandalism and even more when they realized what was being shown was a live feed and there were security personnel running the room trying to capture the perpetrator there. But it wasn’t long when those same security guards were thrown across the room and a figure appeared. An individual with average height, possessing a muscular build, wearing a black and green form-fitting bodysuit with a striking blend of futuristic and tactical elements, with a high collar and is armored at the upper-part of her body while still having style. 

Their perpetrator was a woman.

She finally faced the camera.

Her face was covered with a black and green mask that Bruce guessed also serves as a gas mask and night-vision, since she threw tear-gas in the room. Then she spoke at the camera, her voice modulated with a techno-vibe, “You know where to find me.”

“Go after her!” Bruce heard from the front. Warren Lawford has commanded two of his friends to head to the location.

And so did Batman.

~*~

The doors to the gallery were locked, and Warren, along with his two friends – Armand Lydecker and Gunther Hardwicke – and the security present were trying to kick down the scarlet doors of the gallery. Its smooth red wood was now scratched, chipped, and ruined with the make-shift battering ram they made with one of the mahogany benches there. While they battled with that, Batman saw another opening.

Rather, Bruce Wayne did.

Bruce knew Fallbrook manor a little intimately with the numerous times he’s visited Sienna when they were children. She showed him the passages that she learned while exploring the place. The scarlet gallery had a high-ceiling – one that reached the roof of the third floor, and within its walls there was a passage from the dumbwaiter when he goes in, and stops at the third level, the left side panel would open which would lead to the walls between that had, what they thought were old stairs but were really just the wooden foundations to the false window atop. Giving him a view of the entire gallery. 

“I would always come here to hide whenever Rebecca is being mean to me,” Sienna told him then.

“Why here?”

“Because Rebecca doesn’t like dirty things and she’s afraid of heights.”

“And you’re not?”

“No… I like it here, I can see everything.”

And young Sienna was right. 

From the false window, Batman could see the entire gallery and has a view on who he was up against.

There she was. Clad in black and green, the woman sitting in the middle of the tear-gas mist, only the longer Bruce looked at the mist it wasn’t tear gas it was –

Batman knew that smell. 

Shit!

Batman quickly took out his gas mask to prevent himself from inhaling more of Poison Ivy’s hallucinogenic gas. But the people beyond the door didn’t know and in a few minutes they’ll be inhaling this poison soon. He needed to get to his perpetrator. 

Jumping out of the false window, Batman glided down and kicked her at the back, sending the woman across the room. Despite the mask, Batman knew she was shocked at her attack. She probably didn’t know about the false window, he thought. 

“So, you found my little note?” the woman got up.

“I gotta admit, you almost got me convinced with the Riddle.”

“Well, I wasn’t really trying to get Eddy’s thing but gotta make things interesting – you know? Gotta make sure the idiots know that it’s for them.” She walked around, nonchalantly, her hands on her back.  Batman kept an eye on her hands that toyed by her belt satchel. “But I guess I gotta dumb it down a bit.”

Batman frowned. “So, you know the Riddler, and I guess Ivy too.”

“Ivy, yeah, she shared some tips to keep my plants from dying in my cell. Eddy, oh, he’s leading group therapy – oh, you don’t know? Yeah, The Riddler’s doing a fantastic job, by the way, keeps everyone on their toes and delusional. But, hey, who am I to judge costume-wearing criminals, am I right?”

“You’re from Arkham.”

But who? He got all of the escapees but for Riddler.

“I’m sure you’re wondering now who? Who else did the Big Bat forget in his naughty list?”

“Who are you?” He asked, cautiously.

“You’ll find out soon enough – hey, Bats –” a whistle “-- my eyes are up here!” He lost sight of her hands and she threw a few small-explosives in his way.  Batman used his cape to cover himself.

Wrong move.

She came at him, kicking him down. If it weren’t for his arm that was above his head, he’d be knocked out now with the force she had. But that wasn’t all, she quickly maneuvered over, twisting her body, to angle and kick him from the inside with her free leg. Batman went down with an aching jaw. 

“Good kick,” he muttered.

She came at him again, this time with a retractable staff. Batman rolled over to avoid the hit, and jumped to his feet. She was fast, he noted. Nimble. She knows how to use her physique against his own and her punches felt like a metal bat being held by a professional. He couldn’t find an opening, she was smart to keep her distance from him, knowing she doesn’t stand a chance if he grabs her. But she wasn’t giving him enough room nor time to reach for his utility belt for one of his gadgets.

Unlucky for him. 

There is one thing he noticed. She’s keeping the fight away from the paintings. Quick on his toes, Batman snagged whatever he could find in his utility belt – a batarang – and threw it in the direction of the paintings. As he expected, her gaze followed the weapon and he grabbed the staff, pulling her by the collar, then head-butts her. The woman fell down. Normally a person would look at their attacker but her gaze was in the direction of the batarang that was pinned to the wall, just a few centimeters from Goya's painting. 

“My eyes are up here,” Batman mocked her and was about to grab her, but the woman swept her legs across the floor, tripping him and went to grab her stuff.

But he was faster. 

From his utility belt, Batman pointed his electric charge gun at her and fired.

The woman groaned in pain, wincing but she wasn’t crumbling down. She even grabbed the wires of his weapon and pulled it off her. Turning to him, she said: “Yeah, that doesn’t work for me anymore.”

The door was broken in. 

“FREEZE!”

“GET DOWN ON THE GROUND!”

“HANDS IN THE AIR!”

It was GCPD with the Fallbrook and Lawford security, Jim was leading them all. 

The woman turned to them, letting go of the electric wires, “which is it?”

Guns are fired and the woman quickly threw a smoke bomb on the ground. The last Batman heard is a grappling hook, the gadget zipping up, and the window crashing. It took a while before the smoke cleared and there was just them. 

“She got away,” Batman muttered, glaring at the direction of the broken glass.

GCPD officers started running back to their cars, hoping to chase her, but Batman didn’t hear any vehicle leaving the grounds. She found another way out, but where?

“She got you too?” Jim said to him. “Oh shit, she really did get you – ”

“She’s got a good kick,” Batman commented. “And she seems to be a big art enthusiast.”

“What makes you say that?”

“She didn’t damage the paintings. All of the paintings here have bullet proof glass to protect them from external elements,” Batman pointed at the works. “The vandalism she made was on the glass. That’s why she threw that poisonous gas.”

“Poisonous gas?!”

“It’s gone now.”

“Good, but I think she left something for us too,” Jim pointed at the cracked windows. Another message, this time written with a black marker. “Guess she was in a hurry?”

He finally saw it. The message writing on the wall:

Finally solved it? See you there at – 

There were numbers – a date and time, Batman guessed. Then at the last line, it says: 

Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

~*~

“Anna Karenina.” 

“Pardon, Sir?” Alfred asked.

In the Bat-Cave, a few days after retreating for the night with an aching jaw and a head full of questions, Bruce went through the messages left by the woman – who the GCPD started to call ‘Vandal’ – the photos that he got from his recording were shown on the screen, from the first message written on the floor, then the vandalism on the Lady Gotham painting, then on the window. 

“The last line on the latest message. It’s a line from Anna Karenina – the first line. Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. Everything that’s happened – the first message, her agenda – it seems personal towards the Fallbrooks. Also, Lyle Bolton, and the fact she knows the Riddler and Ivy, and the fact she mentioned her cell in Arkham, it means she’s from Arkham Asylum but aside from the Riddler, I’ve captured all of the escapees.

“I’ve checked with Jim and the records at Arkham for any of their patients. All of them are checked in but for Nygma.”

“So, she’s a ghost,” said Alfred.

“Yes.”

“Then shall we move to the other clue that was left by our Ms. Vandal?”

“Until I find ideals that the Lady stands at the mooring,” Batman read the line. Then he opened the vandalism on the painting’s glass,  “the one thing that Gotham doesn’t have.” 

Bruce studied the work on the glass closely, then cursed, and let out a breathy chuckle of annoyance. “I can’t believe it – the answer was already there and I didn’t see.’’

“Sir?”

“The Lady standing on the mooring – the one thing Gotham doesn’t have – justice. The very thing that Lady Gotham represents. She’s looking for justice,” he got up from his seat. “And she just gave us her next location. What time is it, Alfred?”

“Nearing midnight, Sir.”

“I don’t have time, I need to go to Lady Gotham, now!”

~*~

Taking the jet, Batman arrived at Lady Gotham in the least subtle way.  No point in being subtle when they were expecting him. He landed the jet at the bottom of the statue and then looked up. There at the pommel of the scale, he saw a flash of light going on and off in a certain pattern –

Welcome, Bats!

Grabbing his grappling hook, Batman shot it up to give himself a boost to have enough power to fly himself up to the top and glide down smoothly on the pommel. It was only the light programmed to set the precise timing between turning on and off for the message.

“Took you long enough.”

There she stood, on top of Lady Gotham’s head in full-clad armor but for the goggles she wore the other night. Her shabby pixie-cut hair flying with the strong winds, one side was shaded with a bald spot near the temple. 

Electroconvulsive therapy.

With the type of scarring it explains how she became immune to the electric charge gun he fired at her. 

“I can read you like a book,” she spoke. “I can see what’s going on in your mind right now – you’re thinking, she’s from Arkham but there’s no records of her. Not even the redacted ones the warden hides in his safe. And I’m sure you’ve been wondering what the last two lines mean?”

“Actually, I was thinking about the boat you used to get here. Fancy. And not yours.”

“It’s a rental.”

“Really? And what are you paying for?”

She hummed in thought. “The Lydeckers and the Hardwicke wouldn’t mind, especially when it’s the one that kept their sons from getting hypothermia getting here.”

Hostages?

An alarm was sound, it sounded like one of those cheap digital alarms.

“Look down, Bats.” He did and below him, lying on each of the scales were Armand Lydecker and Gunther Hardwicke, both beaten, bound and gagged, and taped on their chests were folders. On Hardwicke’s chest, the folder had the large message saying: WHITE LIES, and on Lydecker’s chest the folder read: DARK SECRETS. “So, who will it be,  Bats? You wanna rip off my mask or do you save Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum before they get blown off by the wind?”

Batman, quick on his feet, went down to save the two men before they got blown off by the wind. He first went to Lydeckers, taking him under his arm, and before he could get to Hardwicke, the man was blown over at the next gust of wind.

“NO!” Batman had Lydeckers under his arm and swooped down, causing the man to faint as they freefell. With his free hand, Batman called for his jet and had it open to catch Hardwicke, and then dropped Lydeckers in before launching his grappling back to the top to see the woman had fled. 

The boat.

He sees it, heading to Miagani Island. He can make it, all he needs is a good run and a jump. 

Gliding with his cape, Batman flew towards the fleeing boat and when he was hovering above, he closed his arms and his cape to glide kicked Vandal off the helm. She let out a yelp of pain as she crossed over the deck. A dislocated shoulder, he guessed with how she clutched her arm close to her.

“I fucking hate that cape, I hope one day you get sucked into a plane’s propeller,” she groaned in pain.

“That’s a graphic image…”

“What, you prefer banters kept PG?”

“I don’t have time for this! Give up now – you’re obviously hurt! You need medical treatment!” Both physically and mentally, he wanted to add.

“Not until I see the end of this… no justice that Gotham can offer will ever make up for the past six years in that hell hole. You’ll find your answers soon, I just hope Batman is strong enough for both of you… Bruce.”

What? She knows his —

BOOM!

The front of the boat exploded, and right before his eyes, Vandal jumped off the yacht, disappearing into the cold waters of Gotham Harbor.

Another explosion, and before he was caught, Batman jumped off and grappled to the closest boat he could find before he froze. The explosion caught the attention of the GCPD, not long, the closest patrol units came and so did his jet.

No matter how loud the sirens were, it faded in his ears as his mind was clouded with only one thing: she knew who Batman was.