#and give up my social life and sleep to make this fic happen fr

[shoko-ism]

Knight Caleb with Princess!Reader who has been given away to the heir of the foreign kingdom and he has to accompany his only friend, his only love on the journey to said kingdom and it haunts him that a stranger gets the privilege of marrying you and not him. That a man who barely knows what fruits you like(if you ask him the same, he'd say it is you that tempts him the most - his forbidden apple) or what scandalous books you read and giggle at(romances and erotica that make you swoon and wonder how marital bliss would look on you, and he almost swears that he can surpass all the fantasies your sweet mind has conjured up) - all because he was born a royal. Caleb who resents the fact that he wasn’t born royalty; sometimes he wishes on a shooting star, even though he knows they do not make anyone's wishes come true, that when he wakes up tomorrow, you are no longer shackled by the chains of duties and responsibilities anymore - that you are just a common girl, free to live and he’s just a boy who’s madly in love with you.

Knight Caleb whose blood boils at the thought of that undeserving man touching you, kissing you, making love to you when all Caleb had wanted was to be by your side - no matter what. He'd be your friend, your lover, your protector - as long as it is you who commands it. Caleb who feels goosebumps raise on his skin when your fingers play with his hair, when your fingertips brush against his as you pass him by in a flurry of gentle wind, leaving behind the soft aroma of jasmine and roses behind. Caleb who has been your closest confidant all your life (your childhood friend, the only man who has ever made your heart beat violently out of your chest whenever he looks at you like you’re the sun, the moon and his entire galaxy)- who is tormented by you every night when you cry yourself to sleep, scared and alone in a foreign land with no one to rely on. Caleb who wants nothing more than to rush to your side and hold you - who wants to be your first kiss, first love, first fuck.

Knight Caleb who wants to feel your heated skin flushed against his body as he marks up your pristine skin with red bites, who stakes his claim on you by kissing your lips raw and making you lose your breath. Caleb who holds your hand as he talks you through it; murmuring praises into your neck as he whispers vows of eternal devotion - all for you. [But he knows you value your virtue, and he respects you too much to do anything that would tarnish your name, ever.]

Caleb who knows that you love him all the same, but your responsibilities surpasses any feelings you have for him. Caleb who won't stop you from performing your duty, but who will ensure he is able to complete his duty to you and your happiness - even if it means ensuring that your betrothed does not see the light of the day tomorrow.

[phantom-does-a-thing]

hey, i love your fics and all your headcanons about the prime defenders! i love the way you do dakota's chronic pain (or something similar?), its a very unique one. can you tell me more about what you headcanon for each of them?

Oh! Hi sweet anon! I'm so glad that you like my prime defenders stuff! I love writing them and they are just so !!! to me.

Aha I never do talk about headcanons in public so I've never made a coherent list so I will do my best but I absolutely LOVE talking about this kind of stuff <3 headcanons my beloved. They will be under the cut!

this is really long btw.

you ask me to talk and I won't shut up.

William Wisp

this is my boy! My dude! Me FR! I think about him all the time uh headcanons tho hm.

His eyes glow in the dark

He's ALWAYS cold (doesn't produce his own body heat) and is just constantly shivering (I mention this one a lot in my fics)

Legs and hips are a little messed up, he walks with a limp (he is unaware that he does this but other people can notice it). Often hip and knee pain. Syrup brought up the idea to me of a ghost cane and I think about that a lot.

I think it would be funny (haha) if he's scared of the dark and claustrophobic

The claustrophobic one makes me a little insane bc he would know how irrational the fear is since he can literally... go intangible... if he's trapped in a small space he can get out of it.

I also think he would be very afraid of heights! y'know! makes sense!

He would like to sew I think. His main sweatshirt that he wears is just covered in embroidery and patches that he sewed on it.

He doesn't necessarily have food allergies but he does have a lot of sensitivities. He cannot digest much. (Onions, gluten, lactose, yknow food sensitivities).

Rigor mortis! LOL! I think sometimes he just straight up cant move yknow

I ALSO THINK that sometimes he just loses random senses. Like taste and smell. (I have a ghost character that has the same thing happen to him... Boy my beloved).

He sleepwalks a lot or otherwise just straight up doesn't get sleep yknow?

He knows so much obscure information it is INSANE and also a little frightening. He sends random articles to the groupchat in the middle of the night (poor Vyncent who has his ringer on all the time)

He also just like knows way too much and is scarily good at finding things on social media, he will be able to find a social media account within minutes (like my sister fr).

I think he would like cop or mystery shows like Criminal minds, Macgyver etc those type of shows idk. Maybe NCIS?

This isn't really about William but I think that the wisps mess with him whenever they're bored so he has just straight up resorted to giving them their own source of entertainment so they just leave him alone.

He has a record player that he puts on just so they can mess with it and so he can have a little bit of peace.

I think that electronics go a little funky in his presence, sometimes he just straight up cannot use his phone ("hey did you get my text?" "*phone screen is just static* no")

Speaking of texting, he pretty much NEVER responds to texts and either types for 10 minutes and sends a long paragraph response or types 10 minutes and responds with a singular emoji. It's impossible to tell which response it will be.

But if you want to get a hold of ANY of the boys, William is the best bet to text bc he will actually read his messages (he cannot have his phone off of silent bc he has to look at the messages right away, he just won't respond immediately. The message will be read tho).

He's a stress cleaner (when the rest of your life is falling apart at least you can control one aspect of it)

Will is absolutely ATROCIOUS at playing video games, he doesn't have the reaction time and much prefers making Dakota or Vyncent play a game and he'll watch

He's probably like the biggest impulse spender of the three and absolutely comes home from work with stupid things that he bought.

OH MY FAVORITE HEADCANON BECAUSE I AM PROJECTING!!!! BUT!!! BUT BUT!!!

I think that William has muscle issues in his eyes. His eyes cross a lot, especially when he's tired. He's SUPPOSED to wear glasses for it but he doesn't. He only ever wears his glasses when Tide (or Dakota) tells him to. He would have thick square framed glasses that he technically doesn't need to see but his eyes are still a little messed up.

Ok listen, William is from Deadwood. Deadwood is a real city in South Dakota. I think South Dakota should be real. William has the most rural midwestern vibes ever. In my head he is midwestern, he has to be. He needs a thick midwestern accent. He is a corn boy (hi Syrup)

Ok I've been talking about William wisp for too long I need to move on to someone else UHHHH.

Dakota Cole

He loves baking fr! baking and cooking is his specialty and I think besides Tide, he would be the one to cook for the boys.

Stress baker

Sits on the counter all the time (Will and Vyn are sit on the floor type guys).

His hair IS technically curly but it's so frizzy it's impossible to actually tell, it's just a mass of red fluff.

I think it would be REALLY funny if he was naturally ginger but dyes his hair redder.

I think he deserves freckles too, tons of freckles, all over his body

His stomach and the back of his neck is super sensitive (William constantly tortures him w cold hands to the back of his neck)

He is fr like a walking space heater, he is always hot and gives off so much heat

Weighted blankets aren't really heavy enough for him but he loves being compressed fr

I think he absolutely is so affectionate, a ton of casual touches and just like yknow. Hugs, arm around the shoulder, headbutts, nudges all that type of stuff. Personal space is not a thing w/ Dakota but he backs off quickly when it's not welcome.

He does give big hugs though and will tackle someone to the ground if he hasn't seen them in a while. Absolutely massive hugs. Big squeeze.

I think he also loves to hold hands whenever they're walking places he will hold hands with one of the boys.

Gift giving is his love language, he loves getting the boys things that reminds him of them.

He likes watching cooking and baking shows too, absolutely

He has so many joint problems, mostly in his hips and knees (bc that's where he fights mostly) but his back, shoulders and elbows hurt as well during times. He cannot sit on the floor for very long otherwise it will hurt.

Around the base he has various braces and stuff to help w that along w/ stretches and all that

He would be SO good at platformer games (cuphead, donkey kong, super mario bros etc)

Dakota will sit and do something for maybe half an hour at most and then move on to a different activity (exceptions for this are baking, watching tv with the other boys or crochet). Compared to Will and Vynce who could sit for hours doing something specific.

He would just have a ton of stim toys I think, there's a couple that he uses often but he does have a lot in general just bc he'll see one and think it's interesting enough to buy.

This is kind of for all three of them, but around the base they have whiteboards n stuff to draw on, he always draws pictures on the board. (Will and Tide are the only ones to leave actual notes, Vyncent just draws faces).

He has so many pillows on his bed, he would love pillows. Absolutely cozy fr.

Short. I don't care how tall he is on the character sheet. This dude is not over 5'5. He cannot reach the top shelf.

I think he likes fruit punch for his select choice of juice.

He is accidentally the mom friend and by that I mean he just knows his own body well enough to have stuff that he needs. It just happens that no one else in the friend group knows how to take care of themselves.

Re: previous thought. If you need something, he'll probably have it in his bag, he's just like that.

He doesn't always see messages when they're sent but he always responds right away. (rule of thumb, if you need a text to be seen, text Will. If you need a response, text Dakota. Do not text Vyncent).

I don't care about the canon universe for this one headcanon but Dakota would LOVE Spiderman I think.

I think he would have a lot of night terrors.

^I had to add that one because I realized I didn't have that many sad headcanons for Dakota.

I think Dakota also steals clothes a lot. They just let him tho like no one cares. William will see him in the kitchen in a dark T shirt that is the most jarring image but just does not say anything. (He is not allowed to do laundry, certified thief fr)

Ok I've been talking about Dakota too long, Time to move on again

Vyncent Sol

Fr one of the most Boys to Boy yknow? he is a creature fr!

Eyes glow in the dark, Dakota is the only one without glowing eyes, he lives with two cryptids fr.

you can pry the headcanon that he has a tail out of my cold. dead. hands. He has a tail I believe in it.

Re: ^ that thought, super long skinny tail with a little tuft of fur at the end.

Continuing with that, whenever he's upset or scared he wraps his tail around whoever is nearby, constantly hits people with his tail but does not notice. Whenever they're in public he wraps it around his torso to keep it hidden.

Big ears fr! constantly twitching and flicking back and forth, they move so much it's funny to watch sometimes. Also floppy ears tbh.

I think he would have sharp teeth and sharp nails.

When he was younger, his hair used to be like a very pale lavender and was a lot curlier than it is now. He still has the baby curls but he tries to hide them bc he doesn't wanna be seen as immature.

His hair is also super delicate and soft, he cannot use shampoo or product bc it WILL destroy his hair, you have to be very gentle with it.

He purrs. Absolutely does.

Not a fan of physical contact but puts up with it for Dakota

That one post of like that really grumpy cat reluctantly purring on the chest of someone who was sick? yeah that's Vyncent. He hates comforting people. Will purr to comfort others tho. Even if he is wildly uncomfortable with every second of it.

Vyncent would be such a light sleeper, he has super sensitive hearing and will wake up at every little sound. Headphones are not just to hide his ears <3 too much noise gives him a headache all the time.

he would LOVE bugs and plants. Wants to know more about all the nature on prime <3

He always talks about little facts super excited and Will and Dakota always are excited about it too (even if it's common knowledge for them, it's not for Vyncent and he's excited about it).

Will, despite being terrified of bugs, gives Vyncent facts about bugs in return (Vyncent loves hearing about it!)

He's the type to torture bugs on the playground but it's completely scientific, he's doing it for science purposes. He wants to know more.

Vyncent thinks Will and Dakota are super hard to read, they think the same of him. They have different body languages <3

I think he would be allergic to stupid things in the same vein that dogs are. He can't have onions either. (poor Dakota loves onions but no one else in the base can have them except for Tide).

He likes sitting with the others and just kind of sitting in the same room as them, not even doing the same thing. He's just vibing.

I think Vyncent would walk really quietly and constantly sneak up on people by accident.

You could hand Vyncent literally anything and say "eat this" and he would. Same thing with Dakota but for Dakota it would have to at least look like food. Vyncent will eat a rock if you hand it to him.

William showed Vyncent how to do emojis one time and it has been one of Will's biggest regrets (Vyncent now pretty much only texts in emojis. No they do not makes sense).

I think Vyncent would get so motion sick in cars.

I think that he should have a noticeable accent, no one can tell what TYPE of accent (obvious reasons) but it's uncanny enough that he does not sound like the locals.

He deserves a little uncanniness as a treat, limbs too long etc something like that idk. He should be more of a creature.

[tenpmisclownhr]

Itaru Chigasaki character analysis:

Warnings: angst, probably ooc, in general v sad (I’ll probably do a fic about this later so stay tuned)

ok so a ton of ppl write Itaru as this like “now u can have both!!!!! Pretty boy aND gamer rat!!!” And well yes that is kinda sick tbh I feel like sometimes ppl forget about the fact that he’s lowkey got insane angst potential.

like I remember in alex him and masumi were talking about how u can’t lie forever because it eats away at you and leaves u feeling empty and masumi was like “uh hypocrite isnt that what you do every day-“ and Itaru was just like “listen bro I fucqed up point is be urself and people will love you fr isn’t that what you want?” Wait I found the lines off of yaycupcake.com here are some:

“Even if she comes to like the facade that you've put up, you know you can't continue like that forever, right? Can you keep that up 24 hours a day, 365 days a year? You'll break someday.”

“Ahh.....Well, when I was right about your age, a lot of things happened.”

Which gives me the impression that Itaru was a lot more comfortable with being a gamer outwardly until something happened when he was a teenager, and he then felt the need to put up a facade to be successful and loved. Maybe he was made fun of in school, or maybe his parents put too much pressure on him to “grow up” and start thinking about his future. I feel like all that pressure to be successful made him have to repress who he really is into the true gamer Itaru we see in the troupe. This is super sad because he might’ve developed this feeling that everything he likes (games and stuff) is worthless and he has to have money and be conventionally successful rather than happy to achieve something. He doesn’t have anything he cares about other than gaming, so he spends his money on that only. It seems to be (before mankai era) the only thing that was giving him something to look forward to.

Even though Itaru joined the troupe originally because of free room and board, I think once he realized that he could express his unconventional interests and be supported and loved regardless he wanted to stay. When Izumi walked in on him gaming, that must have really freaked him out, like “oh no now they’re going to judge and disown me too.”

“Unlike Sakuya or Tsuzuru, I can't open up to them and do my best. I'm not good at socializing with people. I don't really like communal life. That's why it's impossible for me to put my entire heart and spirit into theatre like everyone.”

“I can't go on like this, obviously. I'll just be a bother to everyone.”

“But I think I'll only cause trouble later on.”

Itaru doesn’t want to leave because of his games, but because he’s worried he can’t express himself and will drag the rest of the troupe down. He cares about them and doesn’t want their performance to suffer because of him, so he wants to leave to give them the opportunity to find someone better. Again, he thinks what he likes, gaming, only makes things worse, so instead of trying to integrate it and be honest he just attempts to run away. And instead of letting this happen like everyone did when he was a teenager, Izumi and the rest of mankai accept him and want him to stay. This helped him find something other than gaming to care about, and the new sense of belonging and family must have been a huge positive change for him.

Why does he like gaming so much, though? Out of all things, whyd he pick that? From how I see it, probably escapism. In the gaming world, everyone sees Itaru as someone successful, except it’s through him doing something he loves. He feels as though he can’t have this in the real world. Itaru in reality is a really hard worker, foregoing sleep and sometimes eating to achieve what he wants in his games. The reason why he doesn’t go the extra mile in his day job is because he doesn’t love it. (On another angst note I feel like Itaru might have some serious self worth and life success determining issues from whatever happened when he was a teen, making him feel like he needs external validation to succeed. Games give him that but in combination with letting him express himself and be happy. Homie needs some self love tho. Like when he thinks of things ppl like about him it’s always he’s a pretty boy or in his games he’s top 1%, not that he’s a caring/hardworking/good person, etc.)

In conclusion mankai was absolutely amazing for Itaru because it gave him an environment he could express himself in and be accepted for, and another passion. He’s not lazy or shallow, but is actually extremely empathetic (as shown in why he originally wanted to leave mankai) and hardworking (games). He would make an amazing so because once he found a person he cared about as much as his games and stuff, he’d work just as hard to make you happy and care about you too. His partner would need to make sure he still takes care of and loves himself too, though. If anyone says that all there is to Itaru is a shallow stinky gamer rat/pretty boy fanservice combo I’ll personally break their kneecaps. Is he both? Yes. But also infinitely more.

[iamfitzwilliamdarcy]

Title: His Father’s Heart

Characters: Jason Todd, Bruce Wayne (some), and OCs

Summary: A priest must have a father's heart, and Fr. Todd has had a good example. Or, the one in which Jason is a priest and starts a school. (a03) 

Note: -shows up 4 months late with Starbucks and too many epigraphs- Happy (extremely belated) birthday to @catie-does-things!!! I finally finished this fic and have 9 pages of a google doc to give you <3 We discussed this once and then I just Ran with it (this fic is also how i learned there is no midnight Angelus???) 

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction....

-James 1:27

“Without confidence and love, there can be no true education. If you want to be loved…you must love yourselves, and make your children feel that you love them.”

“The school was not the end; it was rather the instrumental means for improving the way of life.”

-St. John Bosco

The school that never was supposed to be started with three boys. 

Many would say it was Fr. Todd, who worked tirelessly for the crime, addiction, poverty ravished community he served. But Fr. Todd knew, and he knew God knew as well. 

The school started with three boys, huddling behind the dumpster in the alley adjacent to St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church. 

It was, when Fr. Todd reflected on it, the Hand of God, pushing them where they needed to be, beyond where they thought they ought to be. He was, after all, a diocosean priest, not of a teaching order, and kept plenty busy by the daily happenings of parish life. He had no room in his life for a school. 

He was, though, also very much his father’s son. 

And his father was not the kind of man to leave three, shivering boys in an alley because he was busy. Neither was the Lord, Jason reminded himself, who was in the least of these. 

So he squatted down beside them, enough of a distance they didn’t feel cornered but close enough that he was a presence. And said, “Good evening.”

They were clearly brothers, with the same almond eyes and thick black hair. Even the one whose was curly fit in the set. Hunger made their faces gaunt, but beneath it, if one knew how to look, one could see the same jawline, the same off center nose. 

The oldest one shifted to be in front of his brothers, glaring at Fr. Todd. “Go ‘way,” he said. “I know what you collar people do my momma told me and I say go way.”

Fr. Todd frowned, but kept his face and voice soft. “I promise,” he said. “I’m not here to hurt you. My momma warned me about dangerous men too.”

The boy continued to glare, not convinced. “I have food,” Fr. Todd offered, and the younger boys shifted behind him. Even the oldest betrayed himself with longing in his eyes, though he quickly masked it. “And a warm bed.”

The little ones were sold, but the oldest was smarter. He clearly wanted the food and the bed, but he didn’t trust a stranger.  

Smart enough, Jason thought. He himself hadn’t trusted Batman when they’d first met. 

Better the evil you know, right? 

Jason rocked back on his heels, thinking. “Stay here,” he told them. “I’ll be right back.”

He got up and quickly returned to the rectory. He called the Bishop, waking him up in the middle of the night. Jason, who had requested the exorcist more than any priest in the entire state, had earned that privilege. 

“Almost time for the Angelus,” he said cheerfully, before the bishop warned him about the optics of three boys staying in a priest’s rectory, then added a small lesson of what the Lord would do, contrary to the optics. 

He made a few sandwiches, snagged a couple of water bottles, dumped Fr. Dominic’s hot chocolate from the stove into a thermos, grabbed a blanket, pocketed his cellphone, and made his way back to the alley. 

He sat down, cross-legged, still enough distance the boys didn’t feel trapped. “Here’s the deal,” he said, handing out the sandwiches; the oldest boy didn’t stop the younger ones, but he still eyed the bread and meat in his hand like it was poisoned. “You can let me help you or I’m going to have to call someone else who can. 

“The cops?” asked the littlest one, and Jason nodded. “I can’t leave you out here. It’s going to drop below freezing tonight. I have a contact with GCPD, but I won’t lie to you, if we go that route, likely you’ll end up in a group home and the foster system, if they can’t find your mom or she isn’t able to take care of you.”

“She’s dead,” the oldest said abruptly. 

“I’m sorry,” Jason said. He knew what that was like, to find your mother dead, to have nobody else.  After a pause, he added, “When my mom died, my adopted father caught me stealing the hubcaps off his car.”

The middle one laughed a little and Jason smiled at him. “It was pretty scary, but he turned out to be a good man. He’ll help you, too, if you let him.”

“We don’t  need  help,” the oldest boy asserted. The sandwich seemed to give him strength and he glowered at Jason again. “I told you.”

“That’s not one of the choices,” Jason said. 

“Who’s your dad?” the middle one piped up. 

The older boy threw him a dirty look, but Jason answered, “Bruce Wayne.” 

The little one leaned forward, eyes wide, and whispered, “He knows Batman.” 

Jason whispered conspiratorially back, “So do I.”

That, more than anything, sold the younger two. Even the older, still wary, agreed to come back to the rectory with him.

Fr. Dominic was awake, grading papers at the table. He eyed the three small boys, smiled, and said, “I was so sure my hot chocolate went to a good cause and looks like I was right. Who do we have here?”

The oldest boy gave his younger brother’s a stern look, one that looked out of place on his young face, but they ignored him. The littlest piped up that his name was Joey and Liam was the middle and his biggest brother was Tucker. Dominic shook each of their hands solemnly, even Tucker’s, and then let Jason slip away to make a phone call.

Dominic was still awake when Bruce Wayne showed up in Lululemon joggers and a henley at the rectory and deposited a sleeping nephew into Jason’s arms.

“Since I’m a good Catholic and all,” Dominic said, “I won’t say there are too many kids. Just seems like a lot for a rectory at 1am.”  

“We’re night people,” Jason said apologetically, raising his eyebrows at Bruce.

“Dick’s sick,” Bruce explained as Johnny snuggled his head into the crook of Jason’s shoulder. “And Barbara’s out of town. I couldn’t get out of the Mansion without this one tagging along.”

He held up a bag and said, “It should be enough clothes for a couple of days. I swung through the store and got some toothbrushes too.”

“You’re a blessing,” Jason said, stepping back to let Bruce in. 

Bruce grunted in acknowledgement. Then muttered something about needing a throat blessing before he caught whatever illness Dick had come down with. It was, apparently, hitting him hard.

“St. Blaise’s Feast Day isn’t for a few months, but I think I know a guy who could hook you up,” Jason teased, shutting the door and following him towards the kitchen.

Dominic had gone ahead of them, and his grading had turned into discussing the religion test questions with the younger two boys while their brother watched from his place leaned against the counter.

Tucker eyed Jason and Bruce as they came into the room, and Tommy in Jason’s arms. “Who’s that?” he demanded.

“Nephew,” Jason told him. Jerked his head at Bruce as an introduction, but Bruce beat him to it, holding out a large hand and saying “Bruce Wayne.”

Tucker did not shake it, eyeing Bruce suspiciously. As Bruce dropped his hand, the kid said, abruptly, “My momma used to work for you. ‘Fore she got sick.”

It was the most he’d said after telling Jason to go away, and it was the type of thing Bruce would take personally.

“I’m sorry we couldn’t help her,” Bruce said after a moment. “I would like to help you now.”

When the boy didn’t answer, Jason gestured to the bag and said, “Bruce brought some clothes for you to change into after you clean up. You can take my room for the night, the bathroom’s attached.��

Tucker eyed them like he was waiting for the catch, but when none came, he abruptly moved away from the counter to usher Liam away from Dominic and snatch up Joey’s hand. He glared at the adults as he shut the door to Jason’s room behind them, as if daring any of them to try anything. 

“You were that defensive,” Bruce reminded him quietly, so that Dominic couldn’t hear. “When we first met.”

Jason knew. He’d been cocky and brash, but it had never really covered up the fact that he’d been a distrustful 11 year old who didn’t really know how to look out for himself. 

“I got ahold of Jim,” Bruce continued, louder. “Said he’d send a social worker in the morning but odds were in my favor of being able to foster while they sort it out.”

“Gordon can’t decide that,” Jason muttered, with a head shake, but the way Gotham rolled, the commissioner did have a lot of influence.

“Do you need me to stay?” Bruce asked. He glanced at Dominic, then took a step forward and settled his hand on Jason’s shoulder. 

Jason smiled at him. “I think I can survive on a couch for one night.”

“He slept on a cafeteria floor at last year’s high school retreat,” Dominic piped up. 

“Kid forgot his sleeping bag,” Jason said with a shrug, shifting his nephew’s weight. Johnny had crashed since getting here and was dead weight in Jason’s arms, drooling slightly on his shoulder. 

Jason caught Bruce’s eye, who smiled a little. They both knew Jason had slept on harder than a cafeteria floor before.

“I’ll come back in the morning,” Bruce said. 

Jason raised his eyebrows higher. “For Mass,” Bruce agreed. He paused, and added, “Alfred will send food I’m sure.” 

“Yes,” Dominic cheered quietly, raising a hand in victory. 

He rose to lay his hands on Bruce and Johnny with Jason, to offer them a blessing before they left.

“You know,” Dominic said thoughtfully, after they were gone, watching the closed door of Jason’s room, behind which the shower was still running, “those kids are smart. Think Bruce would enroll them at St. Xavier?”

Jason frowned. “It’s far from Wayne Manor. He’d do it, but I don’t know how the kids would like that commute.”

“Far from here too,” Dominic agreed. He yawned and stretched as if to prove his point. “Speaking of, I should get some sleep. Take my bed, I’ll take the couch.”

But Jason shook his head. “I want them to be able to find me if they need to.”

***************

 It took a long time for the boys to settle in with Bruce as a foster; the younger two settled better They’d had to switch out of their public schools because they were not districted there anymore. They hadn’t been to school in  a while anyway, Jason gathered. 

There was plenty of catching up for them to do, Dominic somehow found time to tutor them in between his own papers and gradings and other priestly duties. 

The boys, like the rest of Jason’s family, became a semi-permanent fixture at the rectory.  

*************** 

That was how it started. There was Dominic’s numerous mentions of St. Xavier being too far away, of the boys’ intelligence, the need for a more individualized approach that private school would afford.

There was the lady at the parish who sobbed to Fr. Todd one morning that she could not afford Catholic school and her district was not a good place for her children--no education, she said, just violence. She was scared they’d join a gang or start using drugs. St. Xaxier had scholarships to offer, but it wasn’t enough, and she had no way of getting her kids to school so far away. 

“St. Maria Goretti parish has always been in the thick of the throes of poverty,” Fr. Paul, the pastor, had said gravely when Jason had mentioned it to him later. 

There was the altar boy who tarried too long at the church after Mass, following Fr. Todd like a duckling, asking theological questions. He never wanted to go home and sometimes sat on the church steps doing math homework until Jason let him inside to pray. 

There was the 17-year-old drug dealer Officer Grayson picked up off the streets; Dick got him set up with a WE program but conditionally that he stop dealing and earn a high school degree, but going back to high school hadn’t put him in the best environment, and he was dealing again within the year. 

There was child after child, and family after family, who needed something more.  

***************

Cardinal Tolan was the one who first brought up the school. Fr. Paul was retiring, and Jason appointed pastor in his leave. 

“The Nashville Dominican sisters are looking in this area to open a school,” the cardinal said. “I think maybe St. Maria Goretti parish could be benefited by that.”

Jason nodded. “A boys school,” he said, as way of agreement. “We’ll need one for the girls as well. The Sisters will know what to do.” 

“We have a donor,” Cardinal Tolan added, thoughtfully. “I’m sure he has enough for two.”

“And boarding,” Jason said, thinking hard. “We’ll need housing for some of them. Students need to feel like it’s home.” 

Cardinal Tolan looked at him a long time, then said, “Truly, you have a heart after the Father’s.”

“I had a good example,” Jason replied, flushing a little. 

***************

It was another two years before the school was built. The sisters moved in, Fr. Todd was appointed chaplain, and the first year saw only 15 students from 9-12th grade, Tucker among them. 

He’d been the most resistant to Bruce and Fr. Todd over the years, though Jason accepted that he loved as best he could. His brothers adored them, more than Jason anticipated. They’d become altar boys at St. Maria Goretti’s as soon as they’d been able, and had cried when CPS had finally tracked down an aunt nearby to take them in.

They stayed in contact throughout the years. They continued in their service as altar boys, and had dinner at least twice a month with Bruce. Jason usually joined, when obligations allowed him. 

When the school opened, their aunt enrolled Tucker, the only one high school aged, right away. Full scholarship, she’d told a bewildered Jason, who knew the diocese hadn’t been able to set up any scholarships yet. 

Leave it to Bruce, he thought ruefully. 

*************** 

By the time the schools were ready to open younger grades, Joey and Liam were ready for high school, and they joined Tucker, now a senior,  at Maria Goretti’s. The younger ones were still rambunctious, but Tucker had grown into a rather solemn young man. He frequently did his homework at Jason’s kitchen table, mouthing quietly to himself or asking Fr. Dominic to read over his papers, while the younger boys played sports or just waited for their aunt to be off work and pick them up. 

He graduated salutatorian with a full ride to Catholic University in DC. 

Jason, handing out diplomas at his graduation while the school secretary announced names, didn’t cry a bit when Tucker shook his hand, and then leaned in to whisper, “thank you.” 

He did look out and find Bruce, caught his gaze, and smile. 

Bruce understood.

***************

Two years later and new Masters degree to join the one he already had, Fr. Todd was appointed principal and chaplain of the school. He’d been involved from the start, as the parish pastor, but now he took even more responsibility. 

“Should’ve been a Salesian,” the cardinal teased, when he told Jason.  

Fr. Todd laughed and shook his head, “Maybe a Domican at that. But God saw fit to use a simple parish priest.” 

***************

Four years later, Tucker sat in his rectory, a month out from his college graduation.  

Bruce had been over for dinner but Tucker declined a ride home to his aunt’s. There had been something on his mind all night, Jason knew. He’d danced around the issue of a post-graduate career, awkwardly steered the conversation away from a Wayne Enterprise job waiting for him as soon as he said the word. 

It wasn’t until Bruce left, after exchanging a significant look with Jason, and Jason had poured them a rather heavy nightcap, that Tucker blurted out, cheeks flaming in embarrassment, “Will you wrote me a recommendation for seminary?” 

Fr. Todd lowered his glass and blinked at the boy in front of him. Now 22, Jason could still see the small defiant, malnourished boy that had huddled in his alleyway. Something like pride and warmth rose up in his chest. Had this been how Bruce felt, all those years ago, when Jason himself had given up the red hood for a white collar? 

After a long pause, Fr. Todd managed, “For here or for Mount St. Mary’s?”

Tucker looked up, surprised. “Here,” he said firmly. And still too much of a hooligan, finished what could have stayed unspoken, “obviously.”

Jason said, “Of course.”

He took a sip of his scotch, suddenly feeling the prick of tears at his eyes, and looking at the young man before him, remembered a little boy hiding behind a dumpster on a cold winter night, and then a little boy stealing hubcaps off the Batmobile, and then man God had sent him to save his life.