#and then realized i wanted to add more and the commissioner told me to go hog wild with the budget so

[theshitpostcalligrapher]

ITS THREE AM AND YOU KNOW WHAT THIS CANNOT KILL ME IN A WAY THAT MATTERS COMMISSION NEEDS????

S PI R A L S

[superhero--imagines]

Part 1 Here! / Part 2 Here!

A/N: I think The next post will be the last one for this series!

“Did you...have fun tonight?” The way Dick haltingly asks causes laughter to bubble out of your mouth

“I can say that was nothing like any family dinner I’ve ever seen-“

And if that isn’t the truth, for one - even though you’ve heard of all of Bruce Wayne’s adopted children, you didn’t think there would be so many.

Dick’s the oldest, well officially anyway. Barbara Gordon, as in Commissioner Gordon’s daughter, was at dinner too. Apparently she and Dick had a brief stint where they dated. You’re guessing it was before Dick realized he likes boys - or maybe he likes both? You’ve never expressly asked him about using sexuality.

He’s got three little brothers, the youngest and the second oldest seem to have the highest predisposition towards violence, mostly to each other. And then the second youngest, Tim, he seems to be barely held together, mostly through caffeine and anxiety.

Cassandra from class was there too, as well as Stephanie, which was nice to see. They ducked out halfway through, which should have been your queue to duck out too.

Unfortunately you didn’t, which resulted in a rather poorly placed tomato soup stain at the edge of your dress’s hem.

“I like your brothers though” you say with a smile. You did like his brothers. The youngest, Damian, stared at you for seven very long minutes, before saying-

“How do you feel about animals?” When you told him you loved them he seemed pleased. Also, as a college student, you vibe with Tim. Though you do think someone should cut him off and have him switch to herbal tea. Jason seems cool enough, he just looked at you for a second before giving Dick a wolffish grin.

“Alfred was nice too, and it was fun seeing your- uh...Bruce again” You almost called Bruce his Dad. Bruce is nice, but he’s still a bigot. It was nice meeting Alfred, who showed you many pictures of a nine year old Dick Grayson, most of which were him doing acrobatics around the house. Honestly you thought it was adorable, but you put an end to it since Dick was blushing so fiercely that you thought he might combust.

It really was a lot of fun.

You shiver, the cold night air brushing against your bare arms. You’re standing in front of your building, saying your final goodbyes until you scamper off to your apartment, getting ready for another week of classes.

“Here, take my jacket-“ He’s already tugging it off. Before you can protest, it’s settled over your shoulders. The effect is almost instant, tendrils of warmth seeping into your shoulders and upper body.

It smells like him, you think.

Like- like his expensive cologne, with notes of amber and moss- but also like soap, like clean laundry, and something else, something sweet.

“Cotton Candy” You murmur to yourself. He probably eats it by the gallon sized bag , you think with a giggle.

“T-thank you-“ your eyes trail from the sleeve of his suit jacket to Dick, who’s got a pink tint fanning across his face, blue eyes flicking from the ground to your eyes.

“Thank you for coming with me tonight, and being so kind and considerate and lovely” and then Dick does something completely unexpected, he leans in closer and presses a kiss to your forehead. Your heart leaps in your chest, his sickly sweet Cotten candy scent floods your senses.

You would just have to tilt you head up slightly to catch his lips in yours. He smells so sweet, it almost makes you dizzy. It’s like being drunk, you think.

You want to smell him more.

“Thank you for being so accepting.” His words are like a bucket of cold water being dumped over your head. You feel like you’ve sobered right up.

“Of course, we’re friends aren’t we?” You offer Dick a smile, but you know it’s probably strained. You were so caught up in the moment, you forget he’s already in love with someone.

All of his feelings, all of his kisses, they’re reserved for Nightwing.

“I’ll see you in class tomorrow” You call out, before walking into your building, feeling Dick’s lingering

So you like Dick.

F*ck.

You’re on the balcony of your apartment, nursing a glass of hot tea in the late night- or would it be early hours of the morning? You can make out the sky beginning to lighten into a lighter blue. Great so you stayed up all night thinking about your feelings.

Your body is going to love you for this.

How did this even happen? Were you just so focused on not getting a crush on either of his sisters that you didn’t see this coming. Ugh why dick of all people? Yeah, sure he’s got those sparkly eyes, and that permanent rosy blush, not to mention that lopsided grin-

Okay so you know why you’re falling in love with him. But there’s no point in nursing these blooming feelings not when-

“Hey do you have any sugar?” The masked crusader asks from beside you. That dazzling smile that makes people everywhere swoon aimed at you.

No point in nursing feelings for Dick, when the object of his affections is standing next to you, drinking earl grey out of your pink “Namaste in bed” mug.

“Or not- no big deal, I love my hot leaf juice with or without sugar.” He adds hastily, taking a loud sip as if to show you how much he’s enjoying your hospitality. You must have let your annoyance get to your face. You sigh, it’s not his fault that Dick loves him.

You’re the outsider here.

“So what are you doing out so late?” You ask, just wanting to make some small talk. But Nightwing lights up like you just offered him a million dollars. He’s so friendly it’s almost annoying, not unlike another certain dark haired golden boy you know.

“I’m always up, fighting crime, patrolling the streets-“ you never realized but being a vigilante is kind of a lot of work huh? You wonder if Nightwing has a day job, he looks so young though- maybe he’s still in school.

“The real questions is why are you still up?” His question is punctuated with a slurp of his tea.

“Just thinking I guess” you shrug, taking a sip of your own tea. You’re not about to tell Nightwing you realized you have feelings for his boyfriend.

“Thinking about the person you love?” It feels like you were just struck by an arrow. Nightwing’s mouth stretches. “No way, I was right?” You can almost picture the sparkle in his eyes behind his domino mask. You wonder what color eyes Nightwing has.

Probably a boring brown.

“Well who’s the lucky individual?” Noting your hesitance, Dick starts to get a little nervous. It hurts a little to think you don’t return his feelings. But there’s something about the shy look on your face, the way your eyes avert to your cup of tea, that’s just hopelessly adorable. What he wouldn’t give to have you look at him that way.

And then, a terrifying thought occurs to Dick.

“Don’t tell me you’re in love with Bruce Wayne?” He’s got absolutely no chance if you’re into older men. No unless you’re willing to wait ten years or so.

Then the most amazing thing happens- your mouth opens and laughter spills out. He’s heard you laugh, but never like this. So loud, and almost desperate.

And then, you do something else he’s never seen before. Somewhere along the way those loud laughs transformed into equally loud sobs. Your mouth pinched tight as tears spill from the corners of your eyes.

A hand curls over your eyes in an attempt to cover your face. This is mortifying, you’re basically crying in front of your romantic rival, completely vulnerable.

You’re about to mutter out an excuse, how you’re not usually like this, that you must be close to your period or something. When you feel a pair of arms wrap around your shoulder, your face pressed against Nightwing’s chest.

“It’s okay, everything’s going to be okay” he murmurs reassuringly, his glove covered hand rubbing soothing circles into your back. And even though you were on the edge of recompsure, you’re thrust back into despair. Your sobs leaving you almost breathless as Nightwing continues to hold you.

“Tell me what’s wrong, so I can help” Dick whispers. Whatever it is, it must be serious. He’s never seen you cry, not when you were a hostage in that bank robbery, or held at gun point at that restaurant, not even when Damian was basically integrating you all night.

“I love someone, who’s never going to love me back” you manage between sobs, and Nightwing only shushes you. His hand traveling to your hair. Cradling your head against his chest.

He smells so good, like amber and moss, and something sickeningly sweet- like cotton candy.

He smells like Dick.

And that seems to soothe you a bit, along with Nightwing’s gentle warmth.

“Don’t worry, everything’s going to be fine, I promise”

“Man, and I thought things were going really well between you guys” Stephanie says, her hand threading through her golden curls, head tilting back so it rests against the back of his couch.

“Yeah, me too” Dick admits with a sigh, he’s sitting with his knees propped up on the floor, his back against the wall.

Cassandra doesn’t say anything, her eyes are trained on the coffee table, their masks collectively strewn across it.

“So what are you going to do?” Stephanie asks, and Dick sighs again.

“What can I do honestly, they love someone else” he shrugs, he plays it off like it’s not a big deal. But the thought of your with someone else... it makes his stomach hurt.

“Just because she loves someone else right now...doesn’t mean she will forever” Those are the first words Cass has uttered all night, and Dick and Stephanie are both looking at her with wide eyes.

Stephanie’s already hyping him up, saying there’s no way their Dick’s going to lose to some no-face-extra, like your love is some sort of competition to be won.

And Cassandra’s only encouraging her, with energetic nods and the occasional ‘exactly’

But all Dick can think about is the way you felt in his arms, and how small you seemed as sobs wracked through your entire body. How deep your sadness felt, like he might be sucked in any moment too, tears falling from beneath his domino mask.

He hates whoever it is that made you feel that way. If it was him- if you loved him instead, he’d make sure you were never sad, he’d give you everything he was and everything he had if it meant you might smile for him.

He doesn’t want to change your mind, your feelings don’t work like that. All he knows is that he loves you- and what you need right now, is a friend. Someone who-

“Just wants to see them happy” Dick mumbles.

Taglist: @adenspolaroids @libraryoffandomsuniverse @jeneeangella @chyume @masked-mushroom

[daringyounggrayson]

I’m sure you all ready have a ton but 59 with Bruce and Dick?

59: “Do you ever regret it?” 

AO3

As much as Dick wants to idealize the early days, when he really thinks about it, he and Bruce have always had their problems. They’ve had shouting matches and misunderstandings and disappointments since Dick’s first year at the manor. Nothing has ever been perfect, not even close. So why is he so surprised that things have gotten worse? He shouldn’t be surprised that the distance has grown. He shouldn’t be surprised that their silences have become loud and thick and uncomfortable. He shouldn’t be surprised that he wants to leave.

“I’m almost eighteen,” Dick says. They had a stake-out tonight, and aside from a few necessary sentences regarding the case, the two hadn’t said a single word to each other. 

Bruce makes a sharp left. “You’re sixteen.”

There’s a pause.

“I got my SAT scores back today.” Dick had been waiting for Bruce to ask him about it—the man had known he’d gotten them, after all; Bruce had sifted through the mail before leaving for work—and when he hadn’t, Dick decided to keep quiet about the whole thing. He’d decided that he would apply to the farthest college from here and leave without ever telling Bruce a single thing. He’d live a whole life without Bruce and he’d be happy. 

Except, that’s not what he wants. He wants Bruce to ask him about his SAT scores. He wants Bruce to care. 

“And?” Bruce asks.

“2200." Then, knowing Bruce will ask, he adds, "That's in the 98th percentile.”

“That’s great. You should be proud of yourself.”

“Yeah.” A pause. “I could go pretty much anywhere I want.” Especially with Bruce’s name behind him, but Dick likes to know that he can stand on his own too.

“. . . Are there any schools you’re considering?”

Dick shrugs. “Maybe somewhere on the west coast.” 

Bruce doesn’t say anything. Dick’s telling him he’s going to run to the other side of the country and he has nothing to say about it, positive or negative. One of Dick’s friends wants to go to UCLA, and her parents are proud and happy to send her, but she also said they got all teary-eyed when they mentioned the distance. 

His parents would’ve done that, he’s sure. But with Bruce, Dick could leave the planet, the galaxy even, and he probably wouldn’t even notice until he tried to give Dick an order and didn’t get a response.

They pull into the cave and get out in silence. 

Soon Alfred appears with cookies. “To celebrate your SAT results, as well as the end of studying for and worrying over that dreadful exam.”

Dick smiles, accepting the plate of cookies and popping one in his mouth. “Thanks,” he says through a mouthful.

Alfred tsks at him and shakes his head, but then he sighs and places a hand on Dick’s head, smiling softly at him for a moment before going back to whatever he’d been doing before they arrived.

It’s clear that Alfred will miss Dick when he leaves, that he’ll care about the distance. It hurt Alfred the last time Dick left, it’s something that makes Dick hesitate to leave again, especially without a proper goodbye.

When Dick glances up to look for Bruce, he finds that he’s already at the computer, typing up a report. 

Dick walks over and sets down the plate of cookies on the desk, then leans against the chair. “Need help?”

Bruce pauses his typing, then continues. “If you want something to do, you can run inventory. Otherwise, get some sleep. You seemed slow tonight.”

Dick scowls, pushes off the chair. “We were on a stake-out all night. What? Should I have watched nothing happen faster?”

The typing stops. “I didn’t mean—”

“Whatever.”

The chair turns, and then Bruce is looking at him. “I’m glad you did well on the exam. I’m, I’m proud of you, Dick. I apologize if I didn’t make that clear earlier.”

Dick looks away and feels like California is far too close to Gotham. Maybe he should apply somewhere out of the country, maybe Australia. 

“Do you remember when I ran away? After Two-Face almost killed me.”

Bruce flinches, but Dick doesn’t feel bad about his word choice in the slightest.

“Yes.” 

“I wrote you a letter. Do you remember that?” They’d never talked about the letter and what was inside. When Dick came back, it was to reclaim Robin and nothing else. Bruce didn’t want him to come home to be a son, he wanted him to come back to the manor, the cave, to be a good soldier. And now that Dick is failing to do that, he isn’t needed. Isn’t wanted.

“I . . . Yes. Why are you bringing it up now?”

“You never looked for me.” He hadn’t been sure, not really, but Bruce doesn’t deny it. “If I hadn’t told you about Shrike, you never would’ve—” Dick stops himself. “Do you ever regret it? Not coming after me?”

“I thought you needed space. I thought you would come back.”

Dick curls his hands into tight fists. “I was gone for weeks! Commissioner Gordon was more concerned about where I was than you were!”

“Dick—”

“Two-Face nearly killed me”—Bruce flinches—“That must’ve been fresh in your mind, but you didn’t seem to care at all that something like that could’ve happened again. Easily.” At one point when he’d been away, three different people wanted Dick dead. And Bruce hadn’t cared. And Dick had been a kid, he’d just been a kid whose so-called guardian hadn’t bothered to look for him.

“I should’ve looked for you.” Bruce’s hands are on Dick’s shoulders. “I’m sorry. You were my child, and I should've done everything in my power to bring you home.”

Dick’s eyes are hot but he refuses to cry. Quietly he asks, “Do you ever regret it?” Dick isn’t sure if he’s asking about Bruce not chasing after him or Bruce letting Dick come home. Maybe neither, maybe both.

Bruce is looking him over carefully. He cups Dick’s cheeks with both of his hands. “I’ll never stop regretting all the ways I've failed you.”

Dick steps back, pulling himself out of Bruce’s hold. He sniffs, nods several times. He looks back at Bruce and realizes that if Dick left right now, Bruce wouldn’t come after him. Bruce might eventually regret that too, given enough time, but regret would only lead to brooding and brooding always seems to lead to distance.

“I’m tired.”

Dick leaves and Bruce says nothing. He doesn’t chase after Dick like Dick stupidly hopes he will; he just goes back to writing his stupid report.

Fifteen minutes later, Alfred appears in Dick’s room and sits next to him on the bed. They don’t talk much, but Alfred does tuck Dick’s head under his chin and rub his back until Dick’s half-asleep. It’s enough to keep Dick in the manor that night, but Dick’s not sure how much longer that will be the case.

[letstalkaboutsebbaby]

Related Activities - Chapter 3

The district has a new attorney and Marshall is going to learn the hard way that he should have acted sooner in pursuing his passion for Caroline.

Pairing: Andy Barber x OFC (Caroline Kline) / Walter Marshall x OFC (Caroline Kline)

Author: Deb @letstalkaboutsebbaby / @letswriteaboutsebbaby

Rating: Mature

Warnings: crime talk

A/N: I do have a lovely beta, but she’s dealing with a lot at the moment so for this fic I’m on my own. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get things right. (If you’re free and patient, I would love some help).

Feel free to comment, reblog or chat with me about it, I always love to hear your thoughts about my fics :)

Commissioner Harper looks unhappy, as one should look if there are three indirect cases of kidnapping and murder happening in your city. The directions coming out of his mouth, however, are making no sense to Marshall - informing he’ll divide the cases between the detectives.

“So you’re going to split us up and make her do this alone?” Marshall argues with more anger than he would normally express over this kind of matter.

“How long will you treat her as a kid? She’s capable and we have three homicide cases. She’s already talking to the new district attorney about the suspect’s interview and other clues she’ll follow. I’ll get an officer to be with her for the time being. I think you need to concentrate on the last kidnapping.”

“So that’s it?”

“Yes. That’s it.”

Marshall goes out of the room slamming the door, his plan of opening up to her more and show her the truth in his words deteriorating. Meanwhile, the day from Caroline’s perspective is going way better - different from what she was expecting. To meet Andy first thing in the morning has improved the day in the most unbelievable way. He’s not only incredibly handsome, but he’s also very smart and pleasant. At first, the talk has been very direct and professional, tossin’ information and possibilities around, until he comments about her accent and the conversation turns to their backgrounds and what they’re thinking about the new environment. Now they’re sitting at the coffee shop and she’s sharing her stress about the last cases and the seeming increase of violence in the district.

“I know it’s hard and I have a feeling you can use a friend.” Andy smiles at her, receiving a sweet smile back.

“Yeah, that would be nice. Are you up to it?”

“I would love to...but not many people want to befriend me I feel like I need to tell you why” the sad look in his eyes cause her immediate sorrow. Caroline’s not aware of what happened to him, but she can see how wounded Andy was by it and she wants to make him feel better.

After some minutes with Barber, learning what befallen his family and how he lost his son and wife, she gets back to work with a sorrowful feeling, distracted by the tragedy and the urge to be an element of some kind of happiness to him. It feels so presumptuous to aspire to have this role in his life, but it’s what she’s aiming for.

As Caroline absently moves the files on her desk, looking for the DNA result she talked to Andy about, Marshall asks if she already knows about the segmentation of their work.

“Yes, Harper told me already. It was you who asked him to do that?” she questions, worrying if it would’ve been his request to be away from her.

“Of course not.” He says with no hesitation.

“Ok. Good to know.” She goes back to the files on her desk, not noticing the detective walking to her until he grumbles by her ear. “Can you accompany me to the conference room, please?”

She stands up to follow him inside and he closes the door as soon as they’re inside, pushing her against the wall with a hand in her waist, startling her with his determination. “What do you want for me?”

“I want you to forget about yesterday, cause clearly I was being naive and I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.” she expresses her discomfort about their current situation, guilty clouding her judgment.

“If that’s what you want…” Marshall let go of her waist with reluctance, all he really wanted to do was kiss her and feel her body against his again, but for some reason the very action that should have brought them together was what tore them apart. Well, he’s the one to blame, he should have gone with it but he turned her off, now Marshall needs to build a new kind of connection with her and show her he can be more warm and affectionate.

The day went by without further conversations between them, Marshall was out following some clues and she was talking with the victim’s family, trying to confirm previous arguments and maybe find something new. She learned Mrs. Phillips had traveled to Massachusetts the past month to allegedly visit a friend - but the family didn’t know who the friend was. Apparently, she did have a lot of friends and it wasn’t uncommon for her to visit them, but this was the first time she came back before the designated day. This information incites Caroline to interview the suspect again, so she sends the news to Andy, getting a prompt answer.

Tomorrow? Can I go along? - Andy

Yes, sure - Caroline

I was about to text you and see if you’re ok… - Andy

I am, thanks. Are u? - Caroline

Yes, leaving now. Wouldn’t mind a beer or two. What do you say?- Andy

I leave in ten - Caroline

Are you driving? I can pick you up - Andy

And drive me home afterward? - Caroline

Of course. I’ll wait in the parking lot - Andy

Andy looks at the phone one more time before smirking and tucking it in his pocket and walking out of the building to his car. Caroline spots him easily and walks to the passenger’s side; before she gets there, though, he jumps out of the driver’s seat to open the door for her.

“Tired?”

“No, not yet. I usually leave way later.” She smiles while climbing in.

“Workaholic much?” Andy leans on the door staring at her with a pleased expression.

“I guess so. Come on, let’s have those beers!” she ushers him.

Once back inside, Andy drives out of the parking lot and confesses he is a bit tired, asking if it would be okay for them to have the beers at some quiet place instead of a bar. After some deliberation about where to go, they decide the best option it’s to be at hers. Indoors, she arranges glasses and some snacks at the center table and tells him to get comfy on the couch, but he opts to sit in the floor, pulling her to sit beside him.

“Let’s toast to new starts.” He says filling her glass.

“Yeah, to new starts. Hope you feel welcome here.”

“I do. A lot, thanks to you.” He clicks their glasses, admiring her sweet personality. Caroline effortlessly wraps him in a refreshing sensation that he wants to enjoy fully - he believes he deserves some happy times after everything he went through.

The time chatting about their favorite movies and books went on and on until they realize it’s 1 AM. “I better go, sweetheart, we need to work tomorrow.” Andy leans against the couch and takes her right hand in his. “I had a great time.”

“Me too. We should do that again someday.”Caroline says, hiding a soft gasp when he brings her hand closer to his mouth and gently kisses it.

They both stand and she walks him to the door. “See you tomorrow, Caroline. Sleep tight.”

You too.” she says opening the door. “Would you text me to say you got home ok?” she adds before he goes.

Looking flattered, he takes a step back, closer to her, and leans towards the cute-looking woman, kissing her cheek gently. “I will, sweetheart. Good night.”

Once she put the dishes in the washer, she takes a quick shower and goes to bed, picking her phone to see if Andy texted as promised, and he did.

I’m home, sweetheart. Nice dreams - Andy

There was another unread text though, from Marshall.

Hope you’re okay, Carol. I’m here if you need to talk. Can I pick you up tomorrow? - M

A/N: Ahhhhh...do you think she should accept the ride?

[tired-college-student-writing]

Tim’s Secret Weapon Pt. 4

I’ve been slightly obsessed with @ozmav​ ‘s Damian Wayne/Marinette Dupain-Cheng pairing as of late, and just saw a post that has inspired me more than anything else has in months, so I felt the need to write it

Summary- Tim has always seen the numbers floating above people’s heads, been able to perceive their threat levels with a single glance. After being a hero for so long he thought he was desensitized to seeing high numbers above people’s heads until Damian brings a new friend home.

Part 1

Part 3

Part 4 (HERE)

Part 5

_______________________________________________________________________

“Yup!” Jason popped the ‘p’ before holding up the book Tim had given him, “Who’s ready for storytime?” 

“What do you mean Tim is afraid I would throw him out?” Bruce pushed even as Jason led them towards one of the desks, “I want to help him with-”

“Yeah I’m gonna stop you there,” Jason cut him off, eyes hard as he set the book down with an uncharacteristic amount of care,“Tim was very offended by what we thought was going on with him and it just made him more sure that all of us were going to leave him behind as his shitty parents did. So let’s just cut to the chase and cool off before he seriously decides to run off before we can go talk to him because I’m pretty sure even after talking to him for twenty minutes, he’s still around seventy-five percent sure that’s going to be a better option than waiting around.” 

Jason had never seen the energy of a room shift so fast, the anger and bloodlust that had been suffocating since Dick uncovered the file on Marinette vanished into a deep rippling uncertainty. If there was one unspoken rule of the household, it was that no previous trauma will knowingly be replicated. It’s why Jason always makes a point of leaving his guns in the cave and never points them passed Bruce unless it’s life or death. Why no one touched the trapeze unless Dick was going up with them and they always used a net, no matter how good their aerial skills were. Why no one spoke to Jason in angry or stern Arabic. No one told Damian he was overreacting, especially when it was about illness or injuries. 

No one was allowed to make Tim think they were abandoning him.   

Dick looked stricken at the very idea, “Jay, why is Tim so scared?” 

“Short answer? Tim’s Meta.” 

The whole room froze, eyes flying wide, making Jason chuckle, “Yeah that was my response to.”

“How long?” Bruce asked, hand gripping the back of his chair so hard, Jason wondered if he was going to break it. 

“From what he said, he was born with his power, it’s always on and pretty impossible for him to block out.”

Damian’s face scrunched, “And father always made it clear that he doesn’t like Metas in Gotham.”  

“Fuck,” Dick swore, turning to punch the cave wall, “How the actual shit did we miss this? We’re fucking detectives goddamn it!” 

Seeing Dick lose it like that made Jason pause. It was rare to see the carefree brother truly get mad about anything, let alone for him to cuss up a storm, he always did prefer those filler cusses that make the rest of them groan. 

But then again Damian looked pained and Bruce was sinking into the Bat-computer chair looking lost as he ran a hand through his hair.

“I never meant it like this,” Bruce whispered, “I just didn’t want anyone else coming to Gotham expecting to be able to fix it overnight. Did I really come off anti-meta?” 

“I…” Jason winced, stopping to think, “I never thought so, but I can see how Tim thought you might be. We all need to talk to him, but I promised I’d explain some of this shit like Tim did to me, and look through his book so that we don’t all bombard him with questions.” 

The four shared a look before they all surrounded the table as Jason began. He told them of the numbers, the skill Tim had that he never shared. After they opened the book they found that it was more complex than just that. 

The entries started off very rudimentary, clearly written by a small child, the dates claiming that Tim began this journal when he was merely six years old. They detailed the color, font, and number of the person he had met. A few of the higher ranks having little ideas next to them on the cause, but as the list grew and the handwriting even outed, there were itemized lists on the reason for each number above a 5. 

By the time they reached Bruce’s they were pretty dumbfounded as they read through Tim’s confusion and fear at the number that broke the code he’d knew through his whole life, his reason section was filled with sentences of ideas, instead of the short bullet points, trying to ration it out. 

The most confusing part of it was he ruled things out that he couldn’t have known, insider trading and corruption would have been a logical conclusion for him to draw of the Billionaire he knew nothing about but he ruled them out instantly, not even bothering to consider they might be part of the reason. 

Not to mention when he actually put it together. 

“His power works on broadcasts as well?” Bruce mused, “I know I never saw he was never on the streets when I was out during this time period,” 

“Adding it to the list of questions,” Dick said as he typed it out into the sheet he had made when they started asking too many questions only Tim could answer.  

“Never mind that,” Damian brushed off, “Look at the traits he listed, all listed at the same time from the looks of the ink but if the date is to be believed, this is from before Todd was debuted as Robin, how did he know you had a mastery in hacking, spoke multiple languages and stunt flight?” 

All of them froze at those words, hunching over it to look at the words. 

There was no logical way Tim could know any of those things. Most of Batman’s skill set could be guessed through out the rumors and gossip that flew since the caped crusader started his reign of the city, but those skill sets still weren’t widely known to the public. 

“I…” Bruce shook his head, “Add it to the list, we have a lot more of the book to get through to worry about this now. We should try and finish the book. 

But the issue popped up again and again as the pages went on, each hero he met he knew their skills down to the littlest detail, things he shouldn’t be able to know, especially before he became the third Robin. 

He knew Clark was Superman when he met the reporter first.

He knew Diane was made of clay before the woman had ever given away that little tidbit.

He knew that Barry was a wiz when it came to criminology before the speedster had ever given up his identity. 

He knew Arthur had low-level empathic abilities that went beyond sea life before Arthur was even considered a hero. 

They were only two-third of the way through the book, arguing over how The Commissioner could possibly know their identities, let alone why it would make his number rise so quickly when not even Bruce’s number had done so when he learned the other League member’s identities, when a stern voice cut through their thought. 

 “Gentlemen, There’s a bit of a situation that Master Tim and I discovered that could use your attention.” Alfred cut in, making them turn, stopping when they saw Tim practically sprint to the Bat computer, pointily looking at the wall to avoid looking at them, his shoulders so tight they shock.

“Tim?” Dick asked, concern dripping from his words as he started towards the younger man only to freeze as Tim visually flinched away from the word, curling inward as he frantically typed away on the keyboard. 

Before any of them tried to break the silence again the giant screen lit up to show a battle play out. A young girl dressed in a red and polka-dotted outfit flipping and twisting out of the way of the pages thrown like ninja stars at her, a yoyo used to propel her, eyes filled with laughter behind her mask. Her moves were agile and practiced, as another figure, a boy her same age dressed in skin-tight black leather entered the frame. 

“I figured out why Marinette is a 15,” He finally managed out, making the bats’, minus Jason, heads snap to him.

A 15? 

The brat couldn’t just have a normal girlfriend, could he?

No, he had to have someone that shattered Tim’s power completely.

 And he had no idea why, until now. 

They really couldn’t blame him for being obsessive. 

“I couldn’t find out why Mari was so powerful,” Tim rambled on, “But Alfred helped me realize that she’s a hero too. A hero with the power of the god of creation on her side, which makes sense for why she completely broke my, uh, my power. She’s been-” 

“Tim,” 

“-fighting a supervillain,” Tim just continued as if he hadn’t heard Bruce, his voice skipping up a few pitches, “ who also uses the power of a god to help him make others into villains to do his bidding. They’ve been locked in battle for years now. Years! We really should have noticed before now, but better late then never right? Heh, she has some allies though so it’s not like she was fighting on her own or anything, and-”  

“Drake,” Damian cut in, ducking past Dick to grab Tim by the shoulder to spin him, staring into his eyes with the type of harsh determination only the demon spawn seemed to be able to, ignoring the quacking fear in Tim’s own eyes, “I am the byproduct of the daughter of one of Father’s greatest enemies drugging him. I was raised will one goal in mind, to be the ultimate weapon to take down all that stood in the way of the League of Assassins, and yet Father, Grayson, Todd, Pennyworth and you gave me safety and taught me why my grandfather was wrong. Todd was murdered by a clown with psychopathic tendencies, was brought back by the magic that my grandfather has a monopoly on, went crazy with Lazarth sickness and thought the best course of action was to become a crimelord in the very city he vowed to protect, going as far as trying to shoot Father, the man he saw as an older brother and you, the boy he was convinced Father had only brought into the circle to die as he had, and yet once the sickness faded Father welcomed back in with open arms, shedding tears for the child he thought he had lost. Father may have made it clear that he’s not a fan of metas operating in the city, but you’re a moron if you believe for a second that means he’s going to disown you or take Red Robin away from you. You’re also lost all my respect if you think this means I or any of the others that dawn the bat moniker are going to feel any different about you for having these powers.” 

Tim’s mouth opened and closed several times after Damian’s speech had come to a close as the others waited for him to break the silence of the cave. All he could feel was his hands trembling as his eyes welled up. 

Damian was still looking at him before sighing, “You really are an idiot,” 

He wanted to retort, wanted to bite out a response as he blinked back the tears but he suddenly found Damian’s arms wrapped around his waist, a tight grounding embrace, the younger boy’s chin resting on his shoulder. 

Tim wasn’t sure he was breathing, his whole body shaking like it was trying to shatter into a million pieces. The brat, Damian, the one person he thought would gladly cast him aside given the slightest of reason to was… 

“You’re family, Tim,” Damian stern voice cut through his mental frenzy, “If I’ve learned one thing since moving to Gotham, it’s that you don’t give up on family, not for anything, and certainly not for something like this.”   

Tim felt something inside him break and the next thing he knew he was sobbing into Damian’s shoulder the pair on their knees in the middle of the cave, gripping Damian back like he thought if he let go the boy would vanish. Slowly as he felt his breathing calm down and his sobs fade he could feel more arms surrounding him. The entire bat family was surrounding him, silently holding him through his breakdown. 

He pulled back, scrubbing his eyes as his family slowly untangled from around him. 

“I’m sorry,” He whispered, voice scratchy from the tears, “I guess I should have known none of you would hate me but… I’ve been so scared that I’d lose you guys too. I didn’t want to risk it, I couldn’t risk it.” 

He flinched slightly when a large hand squeezed his shoulder looking up into Bruce’s eyes, softened by a love that could destroy the world if his child was hurt. A love that none of the Waynes needed to put words to because of looks like this. 

Glancing back to his brothers he saw the love in Bruce’s eyes reflected in theirs, all of them accepting him and loving him still. 

The weight Tim had carried for as long as he knew to grow lighter as a small smile worked its way onto his face. 

His eyes burning with the same intense love for his family back at them. 

For the first time in a long time, Tim knew without a doubt 

It would be okay. 

_______________________________________________________________________

Tim couldn’t stop the whimper from falling from his lips as Marinette’s class came pouring out of the doors of the school.

All of the Wayne boys had decided to surprise Marinette by showing up at her class when it let out, in addition to not wanting to wait to reveal they knew her secret. It wasn’t hard to get all of them to Paris merely days after Tim’s secret came to light, especially since Bruce was planning on checking up on the Paris branch of Wayne Enterprises the following week before everything happened. Expanding the trip last minute to include all of them had taken little effort, and all of their suits were tucked away in their hotel suites, waiting to be dawned once they got Marinette alone. 

Tim was ready to turn back now though and for a very good reason. 

 In the normal sea of threes and fours, normally Marinette stood out with her overwhelmingly soft pink 15, but now...

The tanned girl that had hoards of kids surrounding her had an obnoxious copper 9 floating above her, the font looking like a tiger had scratched it into the very fabric of space. 

A trio of students, a bulky boy, a small pink-haired girl, and a dark-skinned nerdy-looking boy, were messing around as pale numbers circled their heads, a pair of stark white 12s over the boys and an icy blue 13 over the girl. 

A pair of girls, one blonde and one of Asian descent, were bickering as they made their way down the steps,  a canary yellow daintily drawn 14 for the blonde and deep burgundy calligraphed 13 for the more stoic girl.   

And the blonde boy Marinette was happily conversing with, looking even more softspoken and sweet than the baker girl.

He had a venomous green 15 swirling over him in it’s rounded bubble-like font. 

His brothers glanced at him warily. 

“Everything okay Timmy?” Jason asked, eyes flitting over the crowed on instinct, looking for the threat that spooked him. 

“I’ll tell you later,” He groaned back, “... but keep an eye on the girl in the orange jacket, she feels slimy from all the way over here,” 

His brothers nodded, but even so, Tim felt a migraine coming on. 

For once Tim wished for an alien invasion so he didn’t have to deal with this bullshit.

_______________________________________________________________________

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[thepoppypress]

The Battleline Between Good and Evil (Runs Through the Heart of Every Man)

Chapter 6: 

Harley’s head lolled onto Peter’s shoulder as they settled into one of the comfortable couches in front of the fire. Damian was turned away from both of them, not at all curious about their new guests. There was a suspicious heat to his face, however.

‘Must be the fire,’ he thinks sullenly. Soft growls and barks were heard in the corner as Piper, who had situated with Titus, attacked and viciously gnawed with her blunt puppy teeth at his wagging tail, the Great Dane lazily keeping her entertained.

Bruce sat in an armchair that seemed to shrink with his hulking figure crouched in it. Dick and Jason boxed Peter and Harley into the couch, sitting on both sides of them, Jason to Harley’s side and Dick to Peter’s. Tim sat next to Damian, sipping on his hot beverage. Alfred had excused himself to get two guest rooms and a snack ready.

“You must be quite famished after that catastrophe. Don’t worry one bit. I will be back. Excuse me.”

“So,” Dick said, throwing an arm over Peter’s shoulders, “wanna tell us what that was about?” Tim sat forward in interest.

“Yeah, why did the Joker quite literally crash into Harley’s apartment building?” Peter raised an eyebrow at the slightly taller male.

“How did you know?” Tim smirked smugly, and waved his phone in the air. “You hacked into the security cameras?” The second youngest Wayne shrugged.

“It’s not that hard.” It was Peter this time, who smirked, which threw Tim for a loop.

‘Him and Ned would be great hacking buddies,’ Peter thought, an ache present in his chest when he thought about his best friend. He wondered if he was doing okay in his world, and if he was missing Peter at all.

“Peter?” Tim asked, snapping Peter out of his small head space.

“Yeah,” he said, looking around and realizing that everyone was staring at him, save for Harley who was still leaning against him. “Yeah, sorry, I- uh,” he trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck with the arm Harley wasn’t on, “got a little lost for a second there.”

“That’s okay,” Dick assured gently, “what were you thinking about?” Peter, not turning towards him, answered.

“A world far away from this one.” There was a far away look in his eyes, one that the Wayne siblings did not appreciate. It seemed like it made him too sad for their liking, and with one look sent over Peter’s head, Jason subtly elbowed Harley awake. While it would’ve fooled a normal person, Peter was far from normal. He felt the movement of Harley’s body and he glared at Jason, who’s smile was a tad too innocent. Harley snorted herself awake (adorably, Peter should add) and her head lifted off his shoulder.

“Wha?” The dazed and groggy look in her eyes made Peter turn his glare into a little giggle. The platinum blonde’s head snapped toward the sound and she squealed.

“Puppy!” Her arms lifted over his shoulders and she hugged his neck, smacking a kiss to his cheek. Peter gave her a small smile, ignoring Dick’s pout.

“Hey Harls,” he said softly, knowing that this was likely the start of shock that would turn into another manic episode. It wouldn’t have been the first time it happened, but she seemed to get over quickly last time (as quickly as one can). Harley opened her eyes and observed her surroundings before adopting a fearful look on her face and jumping into Peter’s arms.

Peter tried not to wince when it aggravated his wounds that had yet to heal (he wasn’t a monster, he could still be in pain from a few cuts). Instantly, he patted her back.

“Hey, you’re okay. You’re safe.” Harley squeezed tighter and it seemed like her happy visage was gone, and instead, replaced by remorse.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, trembling. Peter’s heart broke for his best friend, not for the first time that night.

“It’s not your fault,” he told her, “it’s your ex’s.” That made Peter think for a bit. A while back, it seemed like Harley knew the Wayne’s and their associates (at this point in time, things had started becoming a bit obvious to Peter about Bruce Wayne’s true career, though many things had stayed the same. The enemies for one, and the intention to protect for another.), which was suspicious to Peter. It led him to the Joker. Harley is a good person and wasn’t likely to get involved with them, if they’re mob bosses in this world.

Even before he knew her personally, he also knew a bit of Harley Quinn’s backstory. Everything started the day she met the Joker. Naturally and even more reasonably, that would be the case here as well. The Joker and Batman are mortal enemies, hence Harley was Bruce’s enemy as well (at least before she got involved with Peter, who had gotten involved with the Wayne syndicate. It made him shiver to address them like that).

“Mr. Wayne?” Bruce’s head turned to show that he had his full attention.

“Bruce, Peter,” he corrected gently, “what is it?”

“How much do you know about the Joker?” A careful look was passed around, one he’s seen being passed between Bucky, Natasha, Clint, and other Avengers who were too observant for their own good. He was sure that he wasn’t supposed to notice but being around those kinds of people, it’s impossible to not pick something up.

“Not much,” a little note of hesitancy was held.

‘He knows more than he’s letting on,’ he thought while gazing at Bruce’s face, ‘Joker is his nemesis. Of course he’d know everything.’ But something about this seemed a bit off putting to Peter.

Batman in this world may be a part of the mob but his priority was still to rid the streets of crime (in his own backwards-ass way), so if Peter needed information, considering that at least some of the Wayne children cared for him, Bruce should be able to give it up. So why wasn’t he?

‘Unless,’ he paused, ‘there’s nothing to give up.’ It’s an angle he should work more. In the meanwhile, he should also start gaining Bruce’s trust.

“Does Commissioner Gordon know anything?”

“He’ll probably know more than I do.”

“Sure. I’ll talk to Barbara and see if I can get his number.”

“We can give it to you,” Dick was quick to rush in. Peter gave him a small smile.

“Thanks Dick, but I think it’d be more appropriate to get it straight from them.”

‘I don’t want to owe you anything,’ he supplied in his own brain while bringing out his phone and shooting a text to his red-headed friend. Once he was done, he noticed that Harley had stopped trembling. Lifting her head from his neck, he saw that she was asleep.

“Actually, I also think that it’s a good time for me and Harley to turn in for the night.” Coincidentally, Alfred came in as he said those words, a couple of ham and egg sandwiches on a silver tray. The smell of light salted eggs and honey ham wafted towards his highly sensitive nose and his stomach rumbled loudly. He hadn’t had much to eat that day. Yet another reason as to why he’ll never be able to fight crime here. No food. There was an awkward pause before those around him burst into laughter. Bruce let out a small chuckle and Damian still had his head turned away. Peter blushed.

‘How embarrassing.’

“We’ll also take those sandwiches to-go please.”

-----

A violent jerk next to him had Peter sitting up with an urgency. Harley gasped, her breath coming out short and fast, and Peter was quick to reach for her shoulder and called out her name, as a reminder of him being there. He didn’t want to startle her into more of a panic than she was already in.

“Harley?” He called, brows furrowed. “Harley? Hey. Harls. I’m here.” His best friend cradled her head in her hands, her shoulders shaking with a jarring consistency that reminded him of his aunt’s when his Uncle Ben had died. He squeezed her shoulder gently and gathered her into his arms. A small sob escaped her and Peter shushed his friend, a comforting hand running up and down her back. “I’m here. I’m here,” he reassured her.

Small sniffles and sobs were pressed into his neck before a watery voice spoke.

“Promise?” There was a hesitant pause from him. Could he really promise?

“Yeah,” he agreed finally, “I promise.” The reward for the obvious answer was Harley snuggling further into his embrace. He promised her. However, actions spoke louder than words. So the question really is, would he be able to keep it?

-----

Peter yawned and trudged downstairs, leaving Harley to sleep in a bit more. The rest of the night was spent contemplating and overthinking until his head hurt while his best friend slept on with the occasional sniffle. Needless to say, he was tired.

“Oh, you’re up!” A chipper voice greeted him at the base of the stairs. He met the blue eyes of his least favorite Wayne at the moment. However, considering this was his house, he shouldn’t disrespect him.

“Yup,” he tried to sound as perky (failing, obviously).

“You know, if you need more rest, you should take all the time you need.”

“Yeah, I would but I have to go to work. I don’t have many sick days yet.” Dick grinned down at him, something he was slowly getting used to.

“Don’t worry about that, my dear! You have the rest of the week off!” If Peter was holding something in his hands, he would’ve dropped it at that moment. He took a small pause in stride to process that statement.

“What do you mean ‘I have the rest of the week off?’” Dick, now walking a little distance in front of Peter, turned around and looked at him weirdly.

“I mean that you have the rest of the week off? Why? Is that weird?” The sweet smile on his face left much to be desired. Peter closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It would take all his patience to deal with this.

“I mean, how, Dick?” An innocent tilt of the head. A bright smile that Peter was sure led people to their ultimate demise before. The feeling of his Spidey Sense coming to life. His shoulders tensed minutely, realizing that there was someone behind him.

“We took care of it for you.” A deep voice said and Peter whirled around to face the head of the Wayne household.

“Mr.-” A stern look stopped him in his tracks. “Bruce,” he amended with a sheepish smile, “what exactly do you mean when you say ‘you took care of it for me?’” The tall man shrugged, a devilish smile on his face. He could see where his first son came to get his charismatic ways.

“We called you in sick.” It was almost as if it wasn’t computing for Peter.

“But I don’t have any sick days saved.” Bruce shrugged again.

“Well, now you do.” That left Peter in dumbfounded silence. Both father and son chuckled at the look on his face (it was a cute one, Dick would assure) before the brown haired boy found his voice again, noting the faint footsteps and feeling of impending danger that approached.

“Do I want to know?”

“Best that you don’t,” another voice said behind him, Tim, he recognized. Peter let his eyes roll back into his head and let it loll back, stretching his neck in the meantime. A series of cracks occurred and Peter let out a sigh of relief.

“Alright, you know what? It’s too early for me to want to know what happened. Maybe after I’ve had coffee or something.” Tim, holding his own coffee, placed a hand over his heart, a little smile on his face.

“A man after my own heart.” Peter peeked out of one eye and decided to tease a bit. He blew a kiss and smiled at the resulting laugh. “Walk with me?” He opened both eyes to see Tim offer an arm to him, the look of a proper gentleman (if that gentleman was as sleep deprived as possible) on his visage. With a grin, he took the arm offered and both men walked through the open door to the dining room. Behind him, he hears Damian’s voice say,

“Father? Why does Grayson have such an insipid look on his face?” It took everything in him to not laugh out loud.

-----

Peter sat in the lounge room of the Wayne’s club, the entire Wayne family around him, save for Damian, Bruce and Jim, because they had other things to do. In his lap was a textbook on advanced quantum physics and the theory of space and time, his brows furrowed in concentration.

As far as he knew, Dr. Strange could travel between worlds and would do so once he knew where Peter was. The balance was important to the good doctor after all. Even then, it didn’t hurt to gain more knowledge about the evidence of the multiverse.

Jason and that redhead from the gym were behind him playing darts, while Dick and Tim watched with amused eyes as the redhead, Roy Harper as Peter had come to know him, beat Jason with relative ease. The second eldest Wayne scowled as the others snickered around him. Another man hung around Tim, seeming the closest to him and Steph.

Yet another black-haired, blue eyed guy, complete with shaggy hair that hung in his eyes and a fade in the back. He wore large, round sunglasses and his ears were pierced severely. He gripped Peter’s hand tightly when they shook, and he introduced himself as Connor, Kon as he insisted Peter call him. His anxiety amped itself up in his presence, and where he was more or less used to the reactions to the Wayne family, he was still cautious.

From his meager knowledge about the DC Universe, he knew Roy Harper as Arsenal, formerly Speedy, Green Arrow’s sidekick, and Kon as Superboy. If Batman and his Robins kept their names here, in the Mafia-verse (as Peter so aptly calls it now), it was likely that they also had the same monikers.

At this point in time, a few days had passed since he had come to stay at Wayne Manor and got acquainted with more people from, what Peter was guessing their shadier dealings. Harley was absent today because she had some things to straighten out. She hadn’t left his side for long since that day but she reluctantly did today and Peter was concerned. He knew his best friend could take care of herself but he couldn’t help but worry.

It was then that he thought about what the last few days brought him. Since he hadn’t really had any time off from work, Steph, Dick and the other Wayne kids took turns showing him around the Manor and around Gotham. It amazed Peter. There was so much more than he realized. They also went to the popularized shopping and club district, spending as much as they wanted.

By they, Peter meant the Wayne’s because he did not have enough money to buy the things sold in that particular part of the city. And he wouldn’t accept any charity, he was clear about that before. Despite that, however, it seemed the Wayne’s didn’t listen. If he said he didn’t need or want anything, they threatened to buy everything in the store. When he finally acquiesced and got something, they insisted that that couldn’t be enough.

“A Wayne entering the store and not buying anything? Preposterous,” Dick said, a grin on his face.

“Yeah. Besides, angel, if we don’t buy anything, it’s bad for business. Rumors would spread.” Feral amusement lit up Jason’s features while Tim smirked in the background, Steph tight to his side. Harley hung off his shoulders, relaxed and obviously having fun. Peter, in the meanwhile, was not.

“BUT WE CAN’T BUY AN ENTIRE STORE’S WORTH OF THINGS!” Damian, leaning onto the counter with a nervous looking cashier, shrugged, eyes sharp and yet, laughing. His voice held some form of enjoyment. This made him sick to his stomach. Is this what rich people did?

“It’s been done before.” There was a moment before Peter exploded.

“WHAT?!” Needless to say, they bought all the merchandise in the store. And then some.

Peter returned to Wayne Manor owning more than he had ever had in his life. A new phone, watch, electronics, wardrobe (after hours and hours of Steph and Dick twirling him this way and that, having him try on things, catering to their whim. The manager was helpless to their wrath, and so was Peter.).

The sudden and faint sound of leather being poked reached his ears, snapping him out of his reverie and he knew that someone had nudged Kon, seeing as he was the only one wearing a leather jacket. A small moment passed before Kon cleared his throat. Peter lifted his head to meet his interested eyes.

“So Peter,” he started. Peter tilted his head.

“Yes Kon?” The lilt in the question paired with large, innocent looking eyes and a sweet smile made Kon blush a bit. He cleared his throat again, aware of the jealous glares that were subtly directed towards him.

“Where are you from?”

“Queens. You?”

“Smallville, Kansas, but I was born somewhere else.”

“Adopted?” Peter asked.

“Something like that. So how’d you get to know the Waynes?” Peter fingered the page of his textbook.

“Through a mutual friend, Slade Wilson. Maybe you know him?” The shocked look on Kon’s face was quite funny and Peter just stopped himself from smiling.

“You know Deathstroke?” Peter shook his flattened hand.

“As a friend, not a business contractor. We met at the bar I work at.” Kon filled out his lips into the shape of an ‘o’ and nodded.

“So then, I suppose you know what he does.” Peter nodded.

“Not the full extent, but vaguely, yes.” An awkward silence fell between them, even with the laughter that surrounded.

“So, what’re you reading about?” Peter lifted his book for him to see the cover. “Advanced Quantum Physics? Smart guy, huh?” Peter lifted one shoulder in a half shrug.

“I mean, not really? I’m just good at this stuff.” Steph snorted, teetering on the back of the couch.

“What a liar. You’re really smart Pete. You should start owning it.” Peter shrugged again and Kon nudged the second youngest Wayne next to him.

“Sounds like you, buddy.” Tim hummed, seeming amused as he watched the interaction between Kon and Peter. The look didn’t leave his face as he stood up and walked over to Peter.

“Speaking of being smart, Peter? Can you help me with this?” The chestnut haired boy quirked an eyebrow, aware of the obvious ploy that was happening and he was nervous about letting it play out.

“Sure. I’m not sure I’ll be of much help, but I’ll try.” Steph cooed, leaning her elbow on her knee and brushing a strand of curly blonde hair out of her pretty face.

“Always our humble boy.” Peter reached over and slapped her knee before she saw it coming, dislodging her arm and making her face plummet towards the ground before she righted herself. She cursed playfully at him as he laughed and walked to join Tim at the long table. A whiteboard was situated at the end of it.

About fifteen minutes later, Tim and Peter had nearly figured out everything that the second youngest Wayne needed help on, Kon and Steph joining (after she finished sulking) at Tim’s side.

“So, I was thinking that this-” Peter pointed to a statistic on a spreadsheet before the sound of something metal bouncing off wood caught his attention. His ears perked up and he could hear Roy and Jason’s voices yelling across the space and footsteps starting to stomp towards him. Suddenly, everything was in slow motion.

His Spidey Sense activated, anticipation gearing his systems as the feeling of anxiety got bigger and bigger and bigger still. The three across from him joined in, their voices creating a cacophony that Peter let sink into the background. The slice of metal through air made him tense his shoulders and with the speed gifted from the spider bite, Peter lifted his hand and caught the object that was hurtling towards him, fingers spanning across the grip, the edge of the dart a mere inch away from his temple.

Everything was no longer in slow motion and his Spidey Sense died down. Footsteps halted and a tense silence hung in the air. Peter looked at the dart that he held in his hands and up to Jason and Roy, who were staring at him in confusion. He glanced towards the three sitting across from him and saw the same look etched onto their faces. A few more moments of quiet passed before someone spoke up.

“Where did you learn how to do that?” Jason asked, jaw clenched. Peter floundered.

“I-” He shrugged helplessly, looking around in nervousness, “I don’t know. I kind of just-” he mimed what happened and shrugged again, a lost look on his face.

“You kind of just caught a dart in mid-air?”

“Yes?” He knew he was being less than convincing but he didn’t know how to act in this situation. Back home, everyone already knew about his powers and he didn’t need to explain when he did weird shit like that.

“How?!” Roy looked incredulous. Peter was really happy that Bruce wasn’t here.

“Natural talent?”

He really needed to work on his lying skills.

-----

“Tony,” Stephen gritted his teeth, “it’s been three days.”

“We haven’t found Peter yet.” The doctor sighed at his wonderfully caring, loving, and infuriatingly stubborn husband.

“You haven’t slept.” Tony sipped his coffee, a dead yet still alive look in his eyes.

“I’ll sleep when we’ve found Peter.” Stephen’s eye twitched and he bit back another sigh. He came forward from his perch behind his husband’s back and wrapped his arms around Tony’s waist, smirking when he felt Tony tense.

“Peter wouldn’t want you to do this to yourself. He’d want you to put your health first.” Seemingly ignoring him, Tony mumbled into his coffee.

“Stupid teenagers. Making their dad worry.” The rest was unintelligible by his ears and Stephen rolled his eyes.

“Wherever he is, darling, he’s fine.” Tony suddenly slammed his coffee mug down onto the table and violently turned towards his husband, scowl deepening when Stephen didn’t even move an inch. He just raised an eyebrow at him.

“Did your Wizard Tingle tell you that? How can you be so sure, Stephen?! He could be dead for all we know!” The blue eyed man scowled right back down to his husband.

“He’s not dead, Tony. I know for sure.”

“Yeah? Well I don’t know, so I’m not going to rest until I find my son.” Tony turned back around and continued tinkering around with the dimensional travelling device he was concocting.

If he could make a time traveling machine to go and stop an evil grape with a panini bread chin from eliminating half of the universe, he should be able to do this. “In the meantime, sweetheart,” the endearment was stressed and said through clenched teeth, “keep searching through the universes, dimensions, or whatever. Please. We need to find him.”

Stephen’s eyes softened. He really loved his husband. While the media made it seem like he was self-absorbed and didn’t care about anyone but himself, it was really the opposite. He cared so much that he was willing to go to the ends of the earth for his children. He had the scars to prove it.The doctor moved forward and leaned his head heavily onto the genius’ shoulder, letting his breath fan across the back of his neck.

“If I continue to search,” he whispers, “will you please go to sleep?” Tony was silent for a minute before he released the tension in his form, slumping in defeat.

“Do I have a choice?” Stephen made a humming noise.

“Well, I mean, you definitely have the choice to ignore what I say, but I will do what I have to.” Tony grumbled some more but Stephen knew that it was all in good fun.

“Fine. But you have to keep looking.” Stephen smiled at the brunette’s back as he left the lab and he called after him.

“Promise, honey!” Once he was sure Tony was out, he looked towards the ceiling. “FRIDAY.”

“Yes, Dr. Stark-Strange?” A small smile came upon his face as he heard his name. What an incredible feeling, to have his name in conjunction with the man he loves.

“Lock down the lab until he gets at least a full eight hours of sleep. Sleep Protocol.”

“Of course.” Then, Stephen opened a portal and stepped into his room to meditate. He promised his husband and it wasn’t like he wouldn’t have done it anyway. Peter was like his own son. He cared for Peter and he wasn’t stopping until Peter was found.

-----

“So,” Harley popped her bubble gum obnoxiously, “I heard from a little birdy that my Puppy did something badass today.” Peter snorted.

“Did you? Lemme guess. Steph?” Harley smirked from her perch on the bathroom sink.

“Spot on as always, Pup. So,” she tilted her chin coyly, bringing her knees up to her chest, “what happened?”

“Nothing much. I just stopped a dart from hitting me. That’s all.” Peter finished washing his hands and left the bathroom with Harley in tow, pouting at the lack of information.

“Aw, Puppy! You can’t just leave me without all the details! Spill! Spill!” He laughed, the sound echoing down the long hallway as they walked towards the dining room.

“It really was nothing! Also, how are you so chipper?” Harley tsked, as if the last few days, if not weeks, weren’t immensely hard on her.

“In my line of work, we need to get over things very quickly. This is no exception. And stop changing the subject!” The argument continued until they reached the dining room.

“Look Harley! There’s nothing to tell you other than the fact that I caught a dart when I went to scratch my head.”

“There has to be more than that!”

“There really isn’t! I caught a dart! End of story!” Those who were already sitting at the dinner table looked up as the duo came in.

“Talking about today?” Steph asked, leaning back into the chair. “You should’ve been there, Harley. It was badass.”

“I know!” Harley whined. “It would’ve been so cool!” Peter groaned as they sat down at the table. The others looked at them, not even trying to be subtle.

“There is literally nothing to it! I happened to grab it when I went to scratch my head!” Jason and Dick grinned while Tim chuckled into his water (Alfred said enough with the coffee. For today.). Damian, who wasn’t at the lounge, looked a bit confused but didn’t ask.

“Okay, okay, we believe you,” Dick tried to placate. Peter gave him a deadpan look, knowing for a fact that it wasn’t true. He also knew that they happened to latch onto this new information, considering that their background checks didn’t yield anything useful. Or really anything at all, with him being from another dimension and all that jazz. Peter sighed.

“Whatever.” Steph and Jason snickered while Harley huffed.

“Not whatever, Pup! I still wanna know!” Jason perked up.

“You haven’t told her yet?” Harley shook her head, looking towards the man with extreme excitement.

“Tell me, tell me!” Jason started recounting the situation earlier, Harley paying attention. Damian typed away on his phone, trying to make it less obvious that he was listening quite raptly as well. By the end of it, Harley was gasping with shock (Jason, the Shakespeare nerd he is, made it so much more dramatic than it really had been).

“That was so much more than what actually happened!” Peter scowled at Jason, who smirked in return.

“Every heroic tale deserves to be told in style, angel.”

“I saved myself from attaining a hole in my head from a dart. Whoop-dee-fucking-doo.” Dick gasped, one hand covering his mouth and the other pointing straight at Peter.

“You swore! You shouldn’t swear. Angels don’t swear!” Peter’s eye twitched, an annoyed expression obvious on his face (though he wasn’t as annoyed as he should’ve been).

“I’m not an angel! I-” The doors to the kitchen opened with Alfred and Bruce carrying plates of food. They placed them on the table and sat down at their respective spots (at the head and the right side of the head).

“You what Peter?” The chestnut haired boy blushed and looked away, the feeling of slight embarrassment prevalent in him.

“Nothing.” Bruce gave him a weird look while everyone else looked amused.

“If you’re sure.” Peter said nothing else and Bruce nodded in assent. “Alright. Let’s eat.”

-----

After dinner, Harley, for reasons unknown to Peter, left, but not before meeting Barbara at the door of Wayne Manor.

“Are you sure you guys will be alright, Harls?” Harley rolled her eyes, an exasperated, but fond look on her face.

“I’m sure Pete. Now go and hang out or do something interesting. I swear, you worry as a hobby. You’re gonna get boring.” Peter pursed his lips, looking adorably concerned and a little insulted.

“I do interesting things!” Barbara and Harley snorted. Peter, in an act of defiant childishness, stuck his tongue out at them and closed the door in their faces, ignoring the loud laughter that reached his ears from the other side. “I am interesting!” He muttered to himself, barely surprised when an arm was thrown around him.

“Sure you are, angel.” Peter shot him an irritated look.

“You know, I’m not an angel right?” Jason looked down on the boy trapped to his side.

“What makes you say that?” Peter looked on darkly, weirdly introspective.

“You attract what you are. I’m friends with a mercenary and someone who deals with some of the shadier sides of things. Not to mention, her boyfriend, a notorious gang member, is after us because I convinced her to break up with him,” he said simply.

‘Too simply,’ Jason thinks. ‘He must really believe this.’

“That’s not necessarily true, Pete.” Blue clashes with doe brown as Peter turned his large eyes up to meet Jason’s.

“How so?”

“It’s not that you attract what you are. What if you are kind but you attract people who are mean? Or you’re loyal, but attract cheaters. It’s not ‘you attract what you are,’ but ‘you attract those in desperate need of what you are.’ Like us.”

Peter was quiet for a moment. Seeing that he wasn’t going to say anything else, Jason continued.

“Besides, even if you aren’t an angel, you’re our angel.” Jason lets Peter go from his side and uses his longer legs to stride in front of him, turning when he is to face Peter. He steps towards the shorter man, towering over him. Jason brings a hand up to Peter’s face and cradles his cheek in a calloused hand. Peter stays still, frozen at the contact. “Whether you like it or not.”

-----

“Tony!” Stephen yelled, bursting through his portal and into Tony’s bedroom. Tony blinks blearily before recognizing his husband and sitting up.

“Hey hon. What’s wrong?”

“I figured out where Peter is!” Tony’s eyes widened, now more awake than ever.

“What?! Where is he?!” Stephen shoves something into Tony’s hands. The genius looks down and squints in confusion.

“Why are you giving me a comic book?” Stephen pointed straight to the comic book, which was titled, “Batman: The Mafia-Verse.”

“He’s in there.” A pause of silence before Tony raises the book.

“Peter.” His husband nods.

“Yes.”

“Peter Parker.”

“Yes.”

“Is in a comic book?”

“Yup.” Another pause of silence.

“What the actual fuck?!” Stephen nodded sagely.

“Wait until you read it.” His husband looks at him weird.

It took Tony ten minutes to read to the stopping point.

“OH HELL NO!”

-----

The bad news came in the morning. Jim Gordon, with tears streaming down his face, came knocking on Wayne Manor’s door. Bruce opened it.

“Jim?!” He reacts with shock and concern for his old friend. “What’s wrong?!” The police commissioner of Gotham City collapses into Bruce’s arms, clutching at shoulders awkwardly but too overcome with grief to notice.

“Babs-” he gasped out, voice hoarse, “she’s in the hospital.” Bruce’s blue eyes widened.

By then, Peter had heard the commotion from his bedroom (now separate from Harley’s) and came rushing down to be greeted by the sight of the sobbing commissioner.

“Commissioner Gordon! What happened?”

“He got to her! She’s in the hospital! And Harley! Oh Harley!” Peter’s blood froze, and his ears pounded. In the background, he could hear multiple footsteps rushing towards them. Peter surged forward.

“Jim! Jim! What happened to Harley?!” Jim could barely get his words through, but eventually could.

“Harley. She’s-” a gasp, “gone.” Another gasp. “The Joker. He took her.”

Previous: Part 5

Next: Part 7

[enaelyork]

Evil grows with love [Part 7] Robotnik x Reader

source @deadlightcircus​

Chapter promps : While the car is broken down, Y/N and Robotnik find themselves in a roadside restaurant waiting for Stone's arrival. And nothing ever goes as planned.

Check my masterlist to read another parts

Robotnik tag list : @pinejayy @a-frozen-bag-of-corn @ysamans @rustypotatospork @verdonafrost @shinotenshi621

Ask in comment for add :)

It had taken agent Stone a long time before he realized that the sound he was hearing was not in his dream. Asleep on his desk, the slight vibrations of his cell phone and his ringing brought him out of his torpor.

A burst of panic! He glanced quickly at the time on his desk clock, who could call him so late? The doctor ? Had he forgotten something? Maybe his Latte !!

"Doctor?" I ... I'm sorry, I ... "

"Good evening Agent Stone. "

The voice that cut him off was not that of the Doctor, no, but it was just as familiar to him.

"I'm sorry to bother you so late ... Do you know who I am?"

- This little European accent lets me suppose that you are Y/N’s Lieutenant ?

- Indeed, I'm so sorry, you were sleeping I suppose? "

Stone was now much more intrigued by the reason for his call than by the rest.

"I was taking a nap, why are you calling me?

- I have a service to ask you ...

- Which ?

- Is your boss with you? "

He raised his eyebrows, surprised by this strange question.

"Well, I guess he is in his lab, working as usual, until very late. He doesn't sleep much. Much less than me.

- Could you check? "

Stone had heard a hint of anxiety in her/his voice, but as he stepped out of a truck compartment to look at the doctor’s lab, he noticed that the lights were off.

"Stone?

- One minute ! He snapped sharply.

Advancing towards the door, he called the doctor softly, but the doctor did not answer him and while he wanted to open the door, it remained definitively closed.

There was no longer any doubt, his boss was not in the truck.

" So ?

- How did you know he was not there?

- In your opinion ? Who have I been looking for in the hotel for half an hour? "

Rolling his eyes, Stone understood where he/she was coming from.

"Y/N is not with you, is that?

- Bingo, and I bet your boss will be where mine is.

- What's wrong with them leaving together? ? "

The lieutenant did not answer.

"Honestly I am worried, I fall on her voicemail every time ...

- Okay, I'll join you. "

He hung up, not really knowing why he told him/her that. And taking his jacket, he was really thinking about what do Robotnik and Y/N both leave when they vowed never to work together.

 ------

"You are impressively incompetent! "

Robotnik's annoyed voice rose over the edge of the forest when the car never wanted to restart.

"So this car you drive is not starting and it's my fault !?

- It's your car !! He yelled "I should never have followed you!" From the start it was ... "

Y/N was not listening to him, she had grabbed her phone and swore when she discovered that it too had decided to die.

" Shit ! No more battery. She considered the Doctor pacing on the side of the road. "Make yourself useful, call your assistant to come and help us out!

- Do you think I'm walking around with a phone?

- What?  Do you have electronic gloves and not even a phone? "

"Don't take me for a fool, Y/N," he hissed. "While you were still whining in your mother's skirts, I was getting my fifth PhD.

- Oh, fantastic ... »she whispered. "Should I applaud you?" "

In truth he knew nothing. He didn’t know that her mother leave away when she was child and that in truth, she never had a chance to cry in her dress.

"Well, mister big head has a plan to make it all right, so? "

The doctor had looked around. On the side of the road stretched the forest as far as the eye could see while the road seemed to lead to a luminous sign. Maybe that was where he would find a way to call Stone and bring him here.

"For a policewoman, you are not very smart! He launched in a proud tone. “Over there, there is a luminous sign, let's go. "

The commissioner did not take note of Robotnik's remark, she did not have the opportunity anyway since he walked without even waiting for her. They didn't exchange a word until they got to what appeared to be a roadside restaurant. Robotnik rushed to the phone booth and slipped two coins that he had in his pocket.

After two tones, he answered.

"Doctor ?!

-Stone !!! You must come and get me!

-Where are you ? "

He heard a voice behind his agent.

"You are not alone, Stone ??

-Y/N is with you? "

He sighed. Obviously, the lieutenant must have been involved too.

"Obviously, otherwise I would probably not be in this situation! “Stone! I gave you an order, take the car and come get me before I take her eyes off!

- You should already tell me where you are a doctor ... "

He activated his gloves to display the gps data, but as he communicated the Gps data he seemed to have lost Stone in the process.

"Just tell him we're on pizza loundge!" Hissed Y/N's voice behind him.

"Ah, yes I see ..." Stone gave the name of the place to the lieutenant who calculated the road on her/his phone. "I'll be there in an hour and a half.

- An hour and a half ??? “ Screamed Robotnik. It was insurmountable.

"I'm doing it quickly, take the opportunity to have a drink right?" "

Stone's last remark made him brutally knock down the telephone handset. He was on edge.

When Stone had hung up, he turned to the lieutenant who was looking at him with concern.

" So ?

- Oh yes, you were right, they both left and ... they are fine. "

She/he sighed in relief.

"But the car broke down and ... I really have to go get them, and quickly, otherwise they will kill each other. "

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

"So? What did we say? "

Robotnik turned to the commissionner with a wicked look.

"He and your lieutenant won't be there for more than an hour!" I will have to stay here with you for an hour!

- Otherwise, apart from anger, you know how to express something else? "

They glared at each other.

"It is good, since I have no choice and that I am starving! »She launched then while going towards the pizzeria. "An hour is the time to eat a pizza, right? "

Robotnik was uncomfortable. What else did he have aside from staying outside waiting for Stone to arrive? In addition, it was necessary to recognize had not eaten for a long time. But the idea of ​​eating outside disturbed him ... He never ate outside. Very difficult on food, he only ate what Stone prepared for him and never left his lab or his rest area.

Here he would have to eat outside, in a place where I did not know ... Food cooked by a stranger.

He was sick of it just to think.

When they had just entered the completely deserted pizzeria, a waiter came to meet them and commented on greeting them.

"May I install you at one…. "

"I'm settling there! Cut Robotnik by jostling him, Y/N glared at the waiter before following without saying a word.

"Have you decided to shame me?" She said annoyed.

"I have considered the places and to me this place seems the furthest from the unpleasant places, it also gives a good overview of the outside and seems sheltered from unnecessary noise.

- Doctor, we're alone.

- For the moment. It will also allow me to quickly see Stone's car arriving. "

She rolled her eyes, exasperated, when the waiter came to bring them the cards.

" You want to drink something ? He asked, taking out his order book. We have a house cocktail this week and…

- Put two! Said the commissioner. Robotnik glared at her. How did this cheeky little girl decide for him? And as the waiter walked away, she shrugged, giving him a carnivorous smile.

"You really need it believe me."

- It's me who decides !

- Well then, choose your pizza! "

Y/N had already leafed through the menu and had chosen one of these favorite classics, so she looked up at Robotnik to watch the strange spectacle face to her.

While the menu consisted of pizza and pasta, he seemed totally lost, obviously it was the first time he had touched a restaurant menu in his life. Even if he tried to show that he was in control, the wrinkles near his eyes betrayed him. Y/N found herself thinking he was almost touching.

"What, you have five PhD and you don't know how to choose a restaurant dish? Maybe you want some help? ”

Robotnik's gaze pierced Y/N.

- No thanks ! He hissed.

There is a short silence.

"But finally, where do we say what to eat on the plates? "

Y/N couldn't hide a smile. She leaned gently toward him to look at the map.

"There, for example, they say it's an extremely spicy dish.

- No, I hate that!

- So take this one, if you like simple things ... "

The waiter came up to them and Y/N returned to her place correctly. He listened to their order and put away his note pad.

"Little romantic outing?"

- Sorry ?! Hissed Robotnik. Y/N meanwhile blinked outraged.

"No, no, we are colleagues, meeting debriefing, you see the kind ...

- Yep. Said the waiter with a wink. "You know, you are not the first couple that I recover, because they got lost frolicking in the forest ..." he launched with a smile.

Y/N and Robotnik stared at each other, the discomfort they were experiencing at the moment was intense. Remember the condition of their clothes (and the lack of a commissioner's belt), they understood what the waiter seemed to want to say to them.

"Are you deaf?" She just told you that we were colleagues! Robotnik's gaze was like two revolvers pointed at the server.

"Yes maybe" the young waiter shrugged. "Nice complicity between colleagues in any case!" he then left without adding anything else, leaving Robotnik and Y/N in a strange atmosphere.

" Whatever ! She launched first, leaning on the back of her seat.

" Dumbass ! "

There followed a long silence.

"Were you thirsty, Y/N?" "

The commissioner looked up at Robotnik again.

"Your glass and half empty ..."

She had actually drunk half of her alcoholic aperitif in one go.

"Speak for yourself!" Yours is empty! "

Robotnik glanced briefly at his glass and dismissed the conversation with the back of his hand.

"So is it possible that we can pick up where we left off?

- Good idea, I don't have that to do! "

She glared at him, he always had this completely unbearable way of speaking.

"Can your truck be serviced?"

- I don't like your humor, Y/N. He retorted in a grimace.

"For that you should have some humor ...

- I'm making jokes!

- Rotten!

- You're just too dumb to understand them!

- I'm so dumb ??!"

The waiter had returned and was watching the argument with an amused look.

"Is this an argument between colleague, I imagine?

- SHUT UP !!! "

They stopped talking at that moment, all of them, Robotnik and Y/N, had said these words at exactly the same time.

The waiter was surprised, he put down the dishes and stepped aside before being embedded in the table.

They ate without a word.

While he was eating, Robotnik glanced discreetly at the commissioner. She seemed somewhere else and was eating slowly, looking out the window. The light from the headlights of cars that passed from time to time was reflected in her eyes. She wasn’t looking for a conversation, or anything else. She had visibly locked herself in a bubble, to think.

It was something that suited him very well.

And when she wanted to do the same, her eyes met Robotnik's eyes and they realized that they had spent the meal looking at each other without saying a word.

" And so ? Y/N said visibly uneasy. "What did you want to tell me earlier?

- I ... "At that time, Robotnik realized that she was not alone in this bubble, that they were actually both there. This moment was strange and made him nervous. Who would have thought that he, Robotnik, would find himself in a lost road restaurant eating a barely cooked pizza in front of a woman who, height of the situation, was also his professional rival? Come to think of it, it might not have been a date, but it might have been the thing that had been closest to him in his life. Red rose to his cheeks.

But they didn't have time to continue their discussions, as the headlights from Stone's car appeared in the window.

When the car pulled over, Robotnik jumped out of his chair and walked over to Stone, raising his hands.

" It's not too soon !! I thought I was wasting away. He exclaimed as he made his way to the car, ignoring [Lieutenant name] leaning on the passenger door.

The agent looked at his boss.

"What ??!

- Doctor, you have dirt on your pants and shoes… What happened to you? ”

Robotnik glanced at his dirty clothes for Stone.

" No question ! He hissed.

"Commissioner, where is your belt? The agent said when Y/N came up to him.

"Good evening, Stone. I sincerely believe that you are badly paid for what you experience on a daily basis. She began. "My belt ... well, let's say that ... we had ...

- An accident ! Hissed Robotnik. " An accident ! I had to cut her belt because she is unable to sneak into a hole. "

Stone gave him an uneasy look.

"Stop with that !!! He said, getting into the car, slamming the door.

"Really, ask for a Pay rise ..." whispered the commissioner.

He smiled at Y/N, nodding to her, when he turned to [lieutenant name) he/she looked up at the sky with a distraught look, the road was likely to be long, very long.

When Stone had started the car and the gps indicated that there was approximately an hour and a half of driving before arriving at Green Hills, (Lieutenant name) glanced in the rear view mirror to watch her/ his superior and Stone’s looking at himself as a dog earthenware.

"Okay, can you explain to me how you got there?" Agent Stone said to untie the tongues of the two accomplices.

"How did we get there?" "Started Robotnik insisting on the we," It's very simple, SHE took me into her heap of junk when we could very well have used my machines and wanted to follow her instinct and as usual it was missed ! "

Y/N looked at him with wide eyes of anger.

"How is it as usual ?? She said shocked. "Please note that it is your fault that we are there.

- MY FAULT ? Robotnik's voice sounded louder than before. "It was YOUR car that broke down!

- To find your creature!

- You’re also looking for it!

- Well, at least I find things, not like your machines! "

[Lieutenant name] looked at Agent Stone distraught, he/she couldn't take it any longer and preferred ultimately when they were both silent.

Suddenly a brake application was made, Robotnik and Y/N were thrown forward and without belts, their faces would probably have eaten the front seats.

"Doctor! Stone's voice was dry and firm. "I hear you again, ONLY once talking about what happened or accusing Y/N, I deprive you of Latte until further notice. "

Robotnik's face decomposed like that of a child deprived of his favorite treat, Y/N gloated.

"As for you commissioner" continued (lieutenant name), turning too. A word about Robotnik or tonight and your chocolate milks are over. "

Y/N felt the ground collapse under her feet.

"You ... wouldn't dare!

- Try ! "

She frowned in her seat with the pout of a capricious little girl. Neither of them seemed to want to protest, and silence fell again in the car.

After half an hour, Stone glanced at [lieutenant name].

"Thank you for your support lieutenant. "

He/She gave him that look with a smile.

“You have to know how to be firm sometimes. "

Stone in turn smiles.

"Finally, their misadventures allowed me to know you a little more lieutenant ...

- Call me [lieutenant name], Agent Stone.

"[lieutenant name] ..." he repeated softly. He/she was happy that the night hid him/her glowing complexion. "Very well [lieutenant name]. Let's do that. And get to know me now. "

The young man/woman glanced in the rear view mirror to make sure everything was going well in the back seat.

"No but ... I'm hallucinating. "

Stone gave her/him an intrigued look.

" Look at them ! "

Stone glanced back, they fell asleep deeply, rocked by the roar of the engine, but no doubt they had moved in their sleep so that Y/N's head rested on Robotnik's shoulder and the head of the doctor rested on Y/N's head, pressed against each other.

[ohdarlingohsweetheart]

FIVE.

One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six

Second time's the charm~

A casual greeting at a book store turns into so much more.

[WARNING]: This is a YANDERE story! Stalking, murder, the whole nine yards!!! Read with caution!

If you find this story on any website NOT under misfitgirlwrites/misfitgirl3390 please let me know!

Font for book cover credit (x)

Cherri: Mary I'm so nervous ;;;

Mary: Nuuu it'll be okay! Did you find the flannel I told you to add to your outfit??

Cherri: Yeah, I did

Mary: Excellent you'll look so cute!!

   Leo didn't look at any pictures of the outfit. He wanted that to be a surprise.

Cherri: What if he is like Darius? He was nice too;;;

Mary: Bab I don't want you to overthink too much! You have every right to be nervous but don't let Darius ruin this for you. He is a meanie! And a jerkface >.> If you don't want to go on the date you don't have to

Mary: If you do go, you have Marcel on speed dial and trust me he will come to wherever you are

   Leo didn't like how much whatever Darius did bothers Cherri this much.

Cherri: You're right I shouldn't let what he did stop me from going

Cherri: It's just hard...

Mary: It won't be easy 😔 Darius is disgusting and not every guy is like him though it may seem like it

Cherri: Okay

Cherri: Thank you, Mary ☺️

Mary: Of course! So are you going? It's okay if you don't want to!

Cherri: I'm still gonna go

Cherri: I like being with him

Mary: Have funnnn!

Cherri: Okayyy ❤

   Leo stood and grabbed his jacket as he started to text Cherri.

[Text]: Ready to see Little Women? 👀

Cherri: Yes!!

[Text]: I heard Arundel Mills Mall is pretty big and the theater is nice

Cherri: Arundel? I've never been out there ;;;

[Text]: If you don't want to go, White Marsh is much closer

[Text]: I figured since that mall was bigger, there's more to do

Cherri: Well, as long as I'm home before 6:30 I'm sure it'll be okay

[Text]: No time to waste then! Text me your address?

   Leo grabbed his car keys and looked at her address before smiling and leaving out to go and get her.

~~

   He was very excited to go and get Cherri and smiled when she came out of the house. Her outfit was cute; Mary did a good job helping her. Cherri got in the car and gave a small smile.

   "Hey." Leo grinned, "you look nice."

   "T-Thank you." Cherri smiled and looked down.

   "Let's get going then."

   The drive was comfortable and Leo was glad that she wasn't as nervous as he thought she'd be. She did get tenser once she realized how far the mall was but he did a good job distracting her. It was clear by her actions that her curfew wasn't flexible. Leo found a parking spot and looked at the time. It just became one in the afternoon.

   "We can get a ticket for the movie now and go see it without missing too many trailers and then grab some food. If you want, we can do something in the city after that so you'll be less tense." He spoke softly and she looked at him.

   "That sounds good. I'm sorry if I'm ruining the mood or anything. I just, I've never--"

   "You're not ruining the mood, I just want to make sure you're comfortable."

   "Okay."

   Cherri felt much better after that. She enjoyed the movie a lot and after she convinced Leo to take her to Dave and Buster's since she's never been. They ended up eating there and they didn't even leave right away. Leo enjoyed seeing Cherri so excited and happy, he managed to sneak a few pictures of her. When they left, it was nearly 5 and Leo wanted to make sure she was back on time.

   "That was so much fun!" Cherri held a big purple stuffed unicorn that Leo had won for her.

   "I'm glad you had fun. We should do something like this again." Leo put his arm around her and she looked up at him.

   "I-I would like that."

   "Cherri?"

   The redhead tensed up and Leo quickly looked over once he heard the familiar voice. Darius made his way over to them and arched a brow, "what are you doing all the way out here?" His brown eyes went to Leo. "And who the hell is this?"

   Leo's grip tightened just a bit and Cherri inched a bit closer.

   "I-I was just--"

   "On a date. How cute. Does your dad know?"

   "Don't tell him--"

   "What? Don't tell him that you decided upon yourself to go out on a date with some guy?"

   "Why is who she goes out with your concern?" Leo didn't let Cherri try to respond. He could feel her shaking now.

   "Because she's mine."

   "Oh really?" His green eyes narrowed.

   "I don't care what she told you or what you think." Darius hissed.

   Leo clenched his jaw, "if you think she even remotely likes you, you're fucking delusional." He shot back.

   Darius scoffed and moved closer. Leo was about to as well but Cherri gripped his jacket and he looked down at her.

   "C-Can you take me home? Please? Don't--He wants you to do something to him so you'll get in trouble."

   Right. The Commissioner's son. Leo let out a breath and nodded. He glanced back at Darius.

   "Nice meeting you." He stated before leading Cherri to his car.

   The drive back was quiet. Cherri hugged her stuffed unicorn close to her and her eyes didn't meet his. He could tell that she was embarrassed and nervous all over again. So much for a good date. When he stopped in front of Cherri's house, he got out of his car with her.

   "Thanks for today...I-I'm sorry about what happened."

   "It's alright. Just, text me later?"

   Cherri nodded and made her way into the house. Leo closed his eyes and sighed.

   "Fuck." He got in his car and made his way back home.

~~~

Taglist: None yet~

[anxious-fandom-bean]

116 hurt/comfort with roceit if you're comfortable

Absolutely! Here it is!

The World On Your Shoulders

Commissioner: Anon

Prompt: 116: "You don't have to carry the weight of the world all by yourself, you know?"

Ship: Roceit

Genre: Hurt/Comfort

Add-ons: Takes place after SvS, naga!Deceit, Deceit has many many snakes, Deceit's lies are habitual

TWs: Sympathetic Deceit (obvs), light cursing, mentioned spider!Virgil and octopus!Remus

Ao3

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

Dee entered his room and slammed the door loudly behind him, letting the others know that he wasn't in the mood to deal with them. He crashed on his heating rock, clenching his teeth and fists to hold back tears of frustration and hopelessness.

"Why?" He whispers, lifting his head up the slightest bit as he senses a presence approaching. Dee relaxes when he realizes it's only one of his snakes. She's a Green Tree Python with a yellow coloring and her name is Sawyer. It's a reference to a movie that not many people remember, but it's one of Dee's favorites. Cats Don't Dance.

Dee gives a half-smile and gently rubs Sawyer's scales. Then, he sighs as he remembers his latest encounter with the so-called "light sides".

"Why is it so simple for them to understand that I'm trying to help? I don't want what's best for Thomas, just like the rest of them! Morality isn't always right. He's not putting Thomas to a standard that will only hurt him in the long run!" He rants, frustrated. A few tears slip down his cheeks and he furiously scrubs them away, gently picking up his Burmese Python, Rose Quartz (Rosie for short), and letting her wrap around his waist and shoulders comfortingly. "It's so completely fair." He whispers, sitting up. "Just because I embody deceit, does mean I'm not trustworthy." He mumbles. "I enable them to lie to each other and themselves. I protect Thomas too. Why can they see that?" He sniffles, nuzzling a few snakes that lazily hang from tree branches carefully positioned around the room.

Slowly, Dee lets his "human" form slip away. He snaps his clothes away as his legs mold together and grow long and thick. His scales spread like wildfire in patches on his left side. Dee's heterochromatic eyes slit and he unhinges his jaw to yawn, extending his large, sharp, shining fangs and sticking out his thin, forked tongue tiredly. Dee curls his enormous tail around himself and chuckles exhaustedly, knowing he looks like that "I am my own blankie" online snake meme. Sawyer curls up lazily in Dee's floofy hair and Rosie is mixed in with Dee's massive tail. Dee can feel Rosie slithering around and getting comfy though, so he isn't too worried.

If you didn't get it by now, Deceit is a naga. Much like Virgil is part spider (Dee wonders if Virgil had told the "light sides" about that yet) and Remus is part octopus.

Dee hisses irritatedly when his door is opened and light shines on his face, but is too emotionally drained to do anything else about it. Fortunately, the door closes quickly. Unfortunately, Dee hears someone gasp and walk towards him. He hisses in warning, not in the mood to deal with Remus's bullshit.

"Easy, Dee. It's just me."

The tension in Dee's body dissipates slightly. Ah. The one (1) "light side" he could actually stand the company of. Dee opens his eyes slightly and flicks his tongue out when he sees Roman "Princey" Sanders standing a few feet away.

"Dear prince, what bringsss you to my dark and dreary domain?" He asks with an expectant quirk of his lips, feigning emotional stability, as per usual.

"You don't have to carry the weight of the world all by yourself, you know?" Roman says making eye contact. Dee sits up and blinks in confusion and surprise. He watches Roman sit down and lean back against his coils, shivering and blushing at the warmth he could feel exuding from the prince.

"What do you mean?" Dee asks quietly, settling back down and watching Roman with interest.

"Well…" Roman begins, and Dee notes the pink glow of embarrassment coloring the prince's already vibrant cheeks. "You're always so tense. I mean, you only ever seem to relax and let your guard down when you're in this form and all tucked away in your room away from everyone else. I get it too. It's hard to be faced with expectations that are so different from what you yourself want or expect. Today, during the trial, I know I sided with Patton, but you and I both know my views aligned with yours. I… I still want to go to the callback more than anything." Roman sighs, looking down at his hands and clothes. "But I have an image I need to keep up. The charming, good prince! The one who fights evil and-"

"And you can let them sssee you clearly. You can let them sssee passst the facade you put up. You conform to what and who they believe you are, ssso they do look deeper or question if you truly are who you say." Dee interrupts with a sigh.

Roman smiles and nods.

"You don't have to bottle everything up. I know I have to keep my image in front of the camera and Thomas and the other sides, but here? Or when it's just the two of us, you can let your guard down a little. I am here." Roman states softly, placing a hand on Dee's tail.

Dee gives a slow half-smile.

"Only if you do the sssame. Put down your sssword and crown and be more open with me. I may be a mere thief, but you can't trussst me." Dee states, trying to look reassuring as he extends his hand.

Roman lets out a wet laugh, placing his hand in Dee's.

"You're not just a mere thief. You're more like… a vigilante." Roman laughs, grinning softly.

Dee flushes and stares at their linked hands.

"A vigilante that loved the monarchy and kidnapped the prince, having cruel intentionsss for him, but findsss that the prince isssn't more than just a crown and a castle." Dee continues, helping Roman stand and looking up at him.

Roman's breath hitches and a few more tears slip down his cheeks as he smiles brightly.

"Yeah… and the prince begins to understand why the vigilante does what he does. The prince learns that the vigilante isn't the evil villain that everyone told the prince he was." Roman states, squeezing Dee's hand.

"The vigilante letsss the prince go, but the prince keepsss coming back, because they underssstand each other." Dee murmurs, staring at their linked hands. He gasps when he feels the unmistakable, soft imprint of lips on his forehead and looks up to meet eyes with Roman and take in his red face.

"And because the prince fell for and admired the inner strength and protectiveness of the vigilante." Roman admits, hesitantly intertwining his fingers with Dee's.

Dee flushes darkly and slowly coils his tail around Roman, before leaning on the regal man's chest.

"And ssslowly the vigilante reciprocatesss, having fallen in love with the passsssionate, beautiful, and undeniably ssstrong prince." Dee murmurs, hissing softly in happiness when he feels Roman's free hand wrap around him and feels Roman bury his face in his hair.

"And they agree to improve with each other. Even though the prince still has to live up to everyone's expectations, he'll never let go of the vigilante's love." Roman finishes softly, his words slightly muffled into Dee's hair, but still clear to the naga.

End

[darknessisafriend]

I’ll find you

Being the Joker’s lover was the most exciting thing that ever happened to you, everyday was an adventure for you; even though you had a normal life and job nobody knew that behind closed doors your lover was the Clown Prince of Gotham. He was passionate, possessive and incredibly loving, everything you wished for.

Sometimes Joker would go out with you without his makeup and costume making him anonymous. Still to protect your identity and protect Joker, you would prefer to disguise yourself when going out with him. You knew too well that if they knew who the Joker’s weakness was, they will hurt him…the GCPD wasn’t the problem, those cowards were too scared of him, however the mafia and even more the Batman was dangerous, these past weeks he had been a lot more aggressive in his search for Joker.

Tonight you were out with Joker, in one of the clubs he owned, but these weren’t just clubs, they covered other activities he had, and it was easier to meet partners and henchmen there. He contemplated in chaos, he never has a purpose apart from creating chaos, a place where anyone is free to do whatever the fuck they want…

Right now he was planning on having the Gotham Central bank to be robbed. Just to piss off the Mafia and the high society of the city. You were sitting snuggled against his side, a cocktail in your hand, he had his arm around you, his thumb distractingly stroking your skin.  When the discussion was finally over, he looked at you, his eyes filled with lust, he leaned in to passionately kiss you, grabbing your neck to have you even closer. You put one of your hands on his torso, feeling his steady heartbeat; as the kiss deepened you slid your hand down to his lower belly, a moan escaped his lips making you grin.

“Now baby…I think we should head home…” he breathed against your lips. And you couldn’t agree more, you wanted him and could feel it was the same for him.

The both of you left the club, his arm around your waist, a cigarette on his lips, two of his henchmen were escorting you to the car in the parking lot waiting for you. The both of you were laughing, eager to get home, and the more you thought about it the more you knew it was going to start the second you get in the car.

Suddenly behind you, you heard a body fall on the floor, turning your head to see what it was you realized one of the henchmen was unconscious, you frowned and Joker too. The heard it again, this time in front of you, the other was on the floor, and a dark figure was standing right in front of you, your eyes widen when you recognized the bat.

“Oh no Batsy can you come by later? I really have something important to do.” He sighed, clearly annoyed. And you were terrified, Joker was no fighter contrary to Batman.

“Your crimes ends now, Joker” he growls with his masked voice, his fists clenched.

“Oh yeah? And how are you gonna stop me?” Replies Joker, taking out his gun and aiming at guy, who doesn’t flinch in return.

“You have someone you care about…I’m going to show how it feels when they’re taken from you” he explains, his eyes locking on you. You hide behind your lover, who shoots at the man. But the armor is bulletproof, it’s like he didn’t feel anything. He walks towards you decided to get you, but Joker jumps on him with his knife stabbing him between his protection slabs. He quickly turns his head to look at you.

“RUN! I’ll find you!” he orders you, your heart is racing, you want to stay, you’re worried for him, but you have to listen to him, he will be alright, you tell yourself, you started to run in the streets of Gotham, looking for a place to hide, in the distance you hear the Joker laugh, you know he mostly laugh when he’s nervous, so you continue to run, not so far from you, you spot a metro station, you had to get into the subway he can’t possibly follow you there. You hear footsteps behind you, you don’t know who it is or maybe the both of them, but you don’t turn around.

You manage to get into the last wagon of the subway train just in time, it’s overcrowded, good, he won’t find you if he managed to get in there. But everything is so noisy, you hear some people cry out, but you don’t know why, you look around trying to see something.

“Y/N!” you hear a voice calling, Joker’s voice, he was here to save you, you smile and call his name pushing through the people to see him, until a hand lands on your shoulder, you turn relieved that he got to you, but your eyes land not on Joker but Batman he has found  grabs you tightly, you scream Joker’s name and struggle to break free, the masked man manage to lift you, and put you on his shoulder, you feel cold air hitting your legs, he opened the door of the wagon to jump off the train, you hit his back with your fist even if it’s useless with his armor. From afar you manage to see your lover, he pushes through the people to get to you as quickly as possible, his eyes never leaving you, he’s terrified, his hair are damp with sweat. you extend your arm to try to reach him but at this moment the Batman jumps of the wagon, you scream seeing the figure of your lover getting smaller and smaller. 

You struggle even more, until he gets you off of his shoulder, muttering a “sorry” before putting a cloth on your mouth and nose, before you could react, everything starts to feel distant, your limbs going numb, until everything goes to black.

Your mind is all foggy, you’re tired, you finally manage to open your eyes, you don’t know this place, it’s like…a cave, you suddenly remember what happened, you try to move but realize your hands are tide behind your back, on a chair. Then you hear footsteps, it’s Batman coming out the shadows, you’re afraid, what was he going to do to you? He stopped a few feet from you.

“Are you going to kill me?” you gulped, he stared at you for a bit.

“No, but I want to teach him a lesson…tell me Y/N how come a brilliant young woman like you…” shit he knows your identity “are you with him willingly?” you frowned at his question, ‘what kind of stupid question is that?’  

“Of course…I love him!” you maintained, angry that he’s assuming things about you.

“He’s a madman who kills for his own pleasure.” He adds, you shook your head in disbelief.

“You clearly don’t know him, do you?” you ask him, your eyes defying. Suddenly, a small alarm, goes on, and Batman goes to the screens he has and turns on the sound. The news are reporting violent attacks in the city, the banks but not only the commissioner was killed by the Joker. You can’t help but laugh out loud, happy, Batman turns to look at you.

“Don’t you get it? He won’t stop, not until he gets me back!” you beamed, a big smile on your face. He groans and lives you alone, but you’re not scared anymore, he won’t hurt you, and your clown will soon be with you, you smiled while thinking about him, you couldn’t wait to be in his arms again.

Hours passed maybe a full day where you didn’t see the bat, until he came back, he looked angry, frustrated, you couldn’t help but grin, you knew he was going to bring you back to Joker, it was the only way to stop him, for a moment at least. He blindfolded you and brought you to his Batmobile. He didn’t say a word for the whole ride, you felt the car come to a stop, excitement rose in your chest. He finally to off your blindfold as he made you go out of the car. It was the night and it was heavily raining, your hair already becoming damp.

Instantly your eyes looked for Joker until you saw him in the distance, you happily squealed wanting to run to him, but the Batman’s hand was still holding you tight. Joker was smoking a cigarette and he was pacing while looking at Batman and you, yeah, he was pissed.

“We agreed you only, none of your men!” roared Batman. Your lover laughed, it was the laugh he had when he was terribly upset, he threw his cigarette on the ground, crushing it under his shoe.

“So you can throw your little show just like yesterday? No…your costume his bulletproof so what are you scared of Batsy huh?” he sassed, you chuckled, he wasn’t wrong about that “Give me my girl back. Now.” He growled deadly serious.

Suddenly Batman pushed you, you couldn’t believe it, you were finally free, you bit your lower, walking faster and faster until you started to run towards your lover, he also took fast steps in your direction until your bodies collided into each other, you threw your arms around his neck, his arms hugged tightly your waist, you briefly buried your nose in the crook of his neck while planted kisses along your jaw and neck, you finally make eye contact, he looks at you fondly, your hand cupped his cheek while the other buried in his green locks. He smirked, both of his hands coming to cup your face, your mouths are only a few inches apart.  

“Told you I’d find you baby…” he cooed, you giggled.

“Yeah and I think we left some very important matter unattended last night…” you purred as you captured his lips, ‘nothing will ever resist us’

[sneegsnitties]

You become a memory of someone else’s legacy

[AO3 LINK] [FF.NET LINK]

Summary:  After a run-in with a strange sorcerer, cole is sent somewhere familiar, but also incredibly different. Stranded with no way back, will he be able to find his way home or will his memories be replaced and lost forever?

Chapter 1

A hooded figure wanders the alleyways of Ninjago city, a crow calls out and lands on his shoulder. His blood-red eyes shine in admiration at his companion.

“Good. you’re back.” he says, the mask on his mouth makes his voice come out in a rasp, “did you do what I asked of you.” the crow caws in response, confirming that it did exactly what he asked it to do. He smiles within his mask. “Perfect.”

With a flourish, his cape swirls around him, encasing him in a black cloud before he disappears completely, leaving nothing behind as he travels between this world and his own.

He steps into his lair, takes off the mask on his face. Revealing the sharp teeth beneath it in his smile, and some of his not quite human features as he walks over to his spell book on the pedestal. Flipping to the page he was looking for.

His smile widens. “My friend,” he looks up at the crow, “it’ll work.”

~

There are some days where Cole wishes that things could be more interesting. Today is one of those days. There has been no new criminal activity or some adventure that he and the others need to go on. Or something like that. Hell, they haven’t appeared publicly in months. Aside from Shintaro, but that’s barely anything.

“I’m bored.” Jay moans.

“We know, Jay.”

“Why can’t anyone do something? Is it bad that I want that to happen? Just so we can have something to do?”

“Aside from training, that Wu insists that we do so we don’t end up soft like last time?” Nya adds, “yeah, I feel the same.”

“We could walk around the city, it would be better than sitting here and doing nothing,” Pixal suggests.

“That sounds like a good idea, we could go visit your father, get food at Skylor’s,” Nya says.

“I’m down to go.” Kai sits up, grinning.

“Is it because Nya mentioned Skylor?” Cole teases

“Yeah,” he says, blinking before realizing the implications of what Cole had said to him “she’s a lesbian, Cole.”

Jay bursts out into laughter.

“I know, I just like teasing you.” He grins at his fiery brother.

“Even if you weren’t, she already told me she wasn’t interested,” Kai adds, standing up and stretching.

“I will let Master Wu know that we are heading out,” Zane says, standing up as well to go to the door.

Before Zane can open the door, Master Wu comes in with a concerned look on his face.

“Everything okay, Master?” Lloyd asks.

“I suppose, but I have gotten word from the commissioner that there was a cloaked, mysterious figure spotted in the city last night. He had disappeared into a cloud of smoke.” Wu says looking at all of them. “They do not have a physical description of him at the moment. I was coming to ask you to search for him. Please be careful, ninja. We don’t know what he’s capable of.”

“Of course, master. We’ll be careful.” Cole says with a smile, knowing how much of an effort that he’s been putting into making sure they know he truly cares.

“We were just planning on visiting the city anyway, so we’ll look while we’re there!” Jay says with a grin.

“Should I take the mech?” Pixal asks as she opens the entrance to the hangar bay.

“I think that would be smart to do.” Master Wu says, “we can never be too careful with unknown threats. Return to me safe.”

Cole nods and follows the others into the elevator.

As soon as it closes, jay speaks up, “is it me or Wu more… caring?”

“Yeah, I noticed that too.” Kai says with a shrug, “it’s not bad, it’s just weird.”

“Kind of reminds me of when I first came to live with you guys.” Lloyd grins mischievously.

“I think he realized while we were in Shintaro when I almost gave up in doing the burst, he realized he’s been neglectful in his teachings, and maybe being an authority figure, too. He’s been stepping up.” cole says with a smile.

“About time for that.” Lloyd mutters, “what?” he says when everyone else is giving him a strange look, “he doesn’t treat me like his nephew. Or… family.” He says.

“So what do you think this dudes deal is?” Kai wonders aloud after a moment of awkward silence and walking out into the hanger and into the newly repaired land bounty as Pixal heads into her mech.

“I am unsure, but it sounds like Master Wu was… afraid. Like he knew what the commissioner was talking about.” Zane frowns.

“Better not be another one of those ‘there’s something I haven’t told you’ things.”

“I doubt it.” Cole sighs, “he seemed incredibly freaked out, plus I think he’s trying not to do that anymore.”

The ride into the city is relatively quiet aside from the music coming from their shared playlist through the speakers of the land bounty.

“It would be smart to stop by the police station to get more information if there is any,” Pixal says, her voice filtering in over the music.

“That’s what I was thinking. If we have time afterward, we can do what we were originally planning on doing,” Nya says as she steers the land bounty towards the police station.

“I now have doubts that we will.” She says, disappointment clear in her voice.

“We can visit another time, it’s all right,” Zane says with a reassuring smile, even though the samurai can’t see it.

Once they reach the police station, they find the commissioner is waiting outside for them.

“Oh, thank goodness. I’m assuming Wu told you?” He says with relief and leads them all inside.

“He told us you called and that a masked, mysterious figure was spotted,” Lloyd says with a frown.

“Yes, he was. We don’t know what his deal is. Though we fear it isn’t good. We know what we know because of security cameras spotting the guy in back alleys with a crow, talking to it. He asked it if it did what he asked it to do and disappeared into a cloud of smoke.” The commissioner explains. Leading them over to the computer to show the footage of the mysterious man. “We also reached out to the people in the area, they knew nothing. Nobody does. Whoever this person is, he’s a new threat that we know nothing about. Did Wu know anything?”

“No, he seemed… afraid. Like this was something he hasn’t heard or seen anything like this before.” Lloyd says with a frown.

The commissioner grumbles, “I’ve had my men out there looking for clues. So far, nothing. If you seven can find something, anything. Let me know.”

“Of course. Thank you for telling us this. We’ll do everything we can.”

He grins, “I knew I could count on you. Now, go, save the city, make sure we’re safe. Again,”

The ninja split up, each of them going in different directions to cover more ground. Cole went check out where the mysterious man was originally spotted. Looking around the alleyways to see if he can find anything that isn’t trash or stagnant water. So far, nothing. Not even a crow feather.

“I was wondering when one of you would show up here.” Cole hears a raspy voice behind him say.

Cole turns around quickly, preparing to call the other ninja in when he is unexpectedly knocked to the ground.

“To be honest, I wasn’t expecting you… earth ninja. But that just makes things more interesting.” He rasps, allowing Cole to sit up and get a good look at his assailant.

What Cole sees, intimidates him. The man’s glowing, blood-red eyes, his black hair, the mask on his mouth that looks like an incinerator vent, the black cloak that makes him blend into the background, making it almost look like he’s invisible if not for the golden embroidery on it.

“You… you’re the person that the commissioner talked about.” Cole says, staring at him intensely.

“Ah… so you know of me.” The hooded figure says, with the tone of voice he was using, Cole can only assume he’s smiling underneath his mask.

“I know that you’re an evil dude who needs to be taken care of!” He says, standing up and summoning his lava hands in preparation.

“But you don’t know everything about me, it seems. Good. I wouldn’t have expected you to. I’m not from this dimension, after all.” He says, circling Cole, “go ahead, call your little ninja friends. It may be the last you hear from them.”

His eyes widen, he falters, his earth punch disappears. Was he going to be killed?

Quickly, he presses his hand to the com piece in his hood. Making sure that he keeps an eye on the figure. “I- I found him! In the same place he was spotted!” He says, the fear hopefully not being too obvious in his voice.

“You did!? Don’t confront him until you have backup.” Nya voice filters through.

“Oh, it’s a little too late for that. He confronted me.” Cole says, summoning his earth punch again. The fear and the adrenaline make it hard to hear the various voices of the other ninja telling him to hold off.

As he attempts to punch the guy, he disappears into that cloud of smoke. The earth ninja goes right through.

Coughing, he turns around, hoping to get him the next time. Before he knows it, he’s choking on the smoke, gasping for air. He didn’t think this through, did he?

“You little fool.” The earth ninja hears through his haze as he continues to choke on the smoke. “You thought you could take me on your own.”

“Y- you threat- threatened me.” He chokes out. He can barely breathe.

The last thing he hears before he passes out is the laughter of the man, “you shouldn’t have taken your chances.” he wheezes, “you do not understand what I’m capable of. Foolish little ninja.”

[thecomicsnexus]

BATMAN: NOËL NOVEMBER 2011 BY LEE BERMEJO, BARBARA CIARDO AND TODD KLEIN

SYNOPSIS (FROM DC DATABASE)

In Gotham City, Batman tracks down a man named Bob Cratchit that he knows to be working for the Joker. Bob has a young son, and out of desperation, he took a job doing a delivery for the Clown Prince of Crime. Batman catches up with him, though, causing him to drop his package. The package is full of the Joker's money, and Batman grabs him, interrogating him about his enemy's whereabouts. Bob knows nothing, and knowing that the Joker will want his money back, he uses Bob as bait, and lets him go free - with a tracker placed on his scarf.

Bob returns home to find his son Tim fashioning a makeshift Christmas tree out of a dead plant and some garbage. The boy is excited to show his creation to his father, but the stressful encounter with Batman has left Bob rather harrowed. Tim wanted to add something to represent Batman to his tree, because Batman is a good guy. Thinking of himself, Bob mutters that sometimes good people have to do bad things.

In the Batcave, Alfred notes that Bruce seems to have a rather severe cough, and should probably not be out in the cold so much. He notices that Bruce is performing surveillance on the Cratchit household, and expresses some disgust at his master's invasion of privacy - and in particular his placing a child in danger by using a parent as bait. Bruce believes that if left to his own devices, Bob Cratchit will raise his son to be a criminal like him. Alfred coldly warns that there was once another boy whose future was risked on his watch.

That boy was Robin. As Batman's sidekick, the boy had brought out a side of his mentor that has not been seen in some time. But Robin is dead, and has been for years. And with him went that happier side. Still sick, Bruce has a vision of Robin, and that apparition warns that he will be visited by three more people who will help him to see what he's lost.

Batman responds to the Bat-Signal and meets with his confidante Commissioner Gordon. Gordon tips Batman off to a report that Catwoman plans to knock over an auction house and may have some information about the Joker's whereabouts. Batman thinks it would be a waste of time to check into it, given the games Selina plays, but decides to stop her anyway.

Near Sprang's Auction House, Catwoman jokes that she could hear Batman's laboured breathing from far away, and dares him to chase her. Angrily, he grabs her and demands to know where the Joker is. Coyly, she responds that she made the story up just to get him to come for her. As he leaves in anger, she calls after him that he has changed. He used to be more determined to pursue her, more willing to play. Annoyed, he gives in and chases her, and something about that action reminds him of the man he used to be, the man he was with Robin. However, in his condition, he is not able to do all he should, and when she makes a desperate leap across a gap between buildings, he misses his mark and falls into the alley below.

Down there, he has vivid memories of his parents' murder. His reverie is interrupted by the appearance of Superman. He comments that he heard Bruce coughing all the way from Metropolis, and using his X-Ray vision, he determines that Batman has the beginnings of pneumonia. Bruce shrugs him off, and sighing, Superman takes his friend's hand and offers to give him a lift to his car. Batman agrees on the condition that they stop by the Cratchit house. Superman comments that it is bad for a hunter to use parents or children as bait. Despite the fact that it is clear that there is plenty of love between Bob and his son, Batman is blind to it and treats the family only as a means to capturing his foe.

Superman is disappointed with Bruce's approach, and decides to show him something. Lifting the Dark Knight high above his city, Superman urges him to see the good within Gotham's citizens in their every day life. Gotham's present is full of acts of good will and kindness above and beyond its crime and dirt.

Superman takes Bruce to the home of Commissioner Gordon, where he has invited one of his officers to share some 'cheer' with he and his wife. The officer comments that there were some Batman sightings across the city, but things seem otherwise quiet. Gordon admits that his relationship with the vigilante isn't easy to keep, and his guest suggests that Batman is a necessary evil. Gordon responds that Batman is by no means evil, but that he walks a fine line and occasionally blurs that line too much. He likes to think that he can temper that instability in Batman.

Afterwards, Superman drops Batman off at the Batmobile, warning his friend to take steps to improve his health. As Bruce makes his way to the car, though, it suddenly explodes, knocking him back. Nearly unconscious, Bruce only has enough time to see a figure approaching before he blacks out. The Joker drags Batman from the alley into a cemetery. He kicks the unconscious Dark Knight into an open grave, and begins shovelling dirt on top.

In his unconsciousness, Batman dreams of a future without him. The city is full of riots, and it has been overrun by rival gangs inspired by his example - only more willing to cross the line. These gangs are at war with another gang inspired by the Joker. James Gordon is tried for aiding and abetting a known criminal, obstructing justice, harbouring a known fugitive, malfeasance in office, and accessory. He is found guilty and sentenced to 30 years without parole. Wayne Manor and its contents are sold at auction and Alfred watches his life taken away from him. Everyone who had cared for Batman is worse off - and why should they care if he died when it seemed to them that he didn't care for them at all? Realizing that he has a chance to make this all right, Batman returns to consciousness, and thrusts his fist up through the dirt which had covered him.

That night, Tim answers a knock on his door, and is horrified to find the Joker standing there. He begins laying out tools of torture on the table and demands to know where Bob is. When he threatens Tim's life, Bob gets up the nerve to come out with a baseball bat and threaten his one-time employer. Unfortunately, the Joker dodges the blow quickly and places the muzzle of a revolver in his face. He demands his money, and makes it clear that he will kill to get it.

Suddenly, Batman smashes through the window and knocks Joker to the floor. Before the clown can retrieve his gun, Bob Cratchit grabs it and turns the tables. He cries out that if the Joker wants to play games with his son's life, he will show him how to play, cocking the revolver. Joker dares him to fire, but Batman urges Bob to show his son that he is not a criminal; to show him what a hero is. Reluctantly, Bob lets the weapon drop, and Batman delivers the Joker to the police.

Tim and Bob are brought closer together by their experience, and Commissioner Gordon's faith in his mysterious friend is restored. Batman returns to the cave, and goes to sleep.

The next day, Batman furnishes the Cratchit household with a real Christmas tree, presents, and even a job for Bob courtesy of Bruce Wayne. Later, Bob would tell the story to his son, borrowing motifs from Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", hoping to teach Tim that a man can change for the better.

REVIEW

I am not a Christmas person (I may be dead inside) and I am definitely not a fan of “A Christmas Carol”, perhaps because the story has been adapted too many times, with mixed results. It’s just best to create a new story.

In any case, this novel focuses in the idea of people being able to change (which is the right approach to the original material), and puts Batman in the role of Scrooge. I could debate about how accurate this could be, but the story was non-canon and it happened on the same month as the New 52 debut, if you needed more reasons to believe this was an elseworld. So let’s just accept that this Batman is always on “Mike W. Barr” mode.

I felt like the Catwoman part of this novel is perhaps the less interesting one (but it also feels like that in the original to me).

The creative twist in this novel is the way it’s told. While we can accept a narrator telling the story in a book without thinking too much about it, here, it comes as a surprise. When I started reading the novel, I thought someone was telling this story, but no. I differ with the DC Database interpretation, Bob is not telling this story with elements of “A Christmas Carol”, I think he is telling the Christmas Carol story as he remembers it. And we just happen to see a different version than the one he is narrating. It’s a bit complicated, but let’s just agree on the fact that Bob couldn’t know about Superman, Catwoman and Gordon. So we are reading two stories in parallel that have the same elements.

The art, well, do I even need to say something? It’s just mesmerizing, and the colors give his pages an “Alex Ross” feel.

I give this novel a score of 9

[hawksmutualinactive]

Icarus

Alright folks, I wouldn’t exactly call this a meta because it's more just me rambling about this, but here you go.

TW for: Abuse mention, Endeavor

Endeavor stans and Endhawks shippers do not fucking interact with this.

Let’s talk about Hawks, Dabi, and Icarus. Of course this parallel is talked about everywhere by everybody, but I want to throw in my own two cents on the matter, and lead this into what I think is going to be the fate of Hawks and Dabi.

Let’s start with Hawks. Obviously, he has the most icarus parallels, and people are quick to put him in that role. And rightfully so! It’s implied that Hawks was neglected by his parents, and taken in by the commissions office so he could be made into a hero. It’s why he had a hero agency so young, and, in part, why his hero ranking is so high. It’s also why he was assigned to the league infiltration case as opposed to someone more low-key, they know he can handle himself, and, are confident he won't turn on the side he was raised on.

But when Dabi is brought into the picture, a man who follows Stains ideals which are so strongly against the commissions own beliefs. Hawks begins to see the other side of things for the first time, he’s shown that the hero side is corrupt, that the commissions board is corrupt, that they care not about saving but about the money and control that comes with it, and on top of that, Hawks will be shown (or realize it himself) that Endeavor, too, is an example of the corruption of hero society and the fact that his actions are covered up by himself or others on the account of his status is not good or okay by any means. By coming to this realization, Hawks will more than likely be swayed towards the villains side more, as he will believe helping bring Endeavor down is “Doing what’s right.”

However, in doing so, we can guess that as Hawks comes closer to Dabi (the sun) he will end up “Falling” and ending up either dead, out of commission, or without wings. 

With that line up of events, it’s easy to tie his story to Icarus. Hawks is Icarus, flying high with his success, fame, and approval ratings, even his mission isn’t going as terribly as it could. The commissioner is the father tell Hawks to fly high, but not too close to the sun (or in this case not close enough to switch sides). The sun is Dabi. Hawks gets too close, his wings ‘melt’ or he fails, and he falls. The end, parallel finished, move on to the next arc.

But alongside Hawks, Dabi also draws many similar parallels. Assuming Dabi is Touya Todoroki Which he is fuck you HIS story starts out, in some ways, being similar to Hawks, he was supposed to be/trained to be a hero, but after it was found that he didn’t/couldn’t make the cut, he was neglected and thrown aside with his sister and brother. Something happened that lead him to a life of villainy, and with this, he was no longer weak or forgotten. I think that it’s safe to say that Dabi is one of the leagues strongest members, along with that, he’s high in ranking, makes a lasting impression on the news and he enjoys it. And, like Hawks, his own mission (killing Endeavor) is going pretty well.

Again, we can tie this pretty easily to Icarus

Dabi is given rank within the league and a Nomu at his command as help, though he is supposed to use this to fight with/for the league and Shigaraki, instead his own goal calls to him. Endeavor. Dabi takes what he's been given and flies past what the league expects of him, and up towards his goal of killing Endeavor. Despite the power he has, the sun overpowers that, and sends Dabi falling to jail, or to death. 

So quite obviously, there’s two ways you could look at the icarus parallels, but the third option is even better, and the one that has become my own personal favorite. Before I get into explaining it, I want to draw your attention to this cover art:

Pretty simple, shows both Hawks and Endeavor in an artistic way, yada yada. but what I’d like to focus on is here:

And yes yes, I know that this has been point out many a time, “Blue flames! Dabi is on the other side of Hawks!” but I want to go a little deeper into it, because the connection I want to make is that neither Dabi nor Hawks are icarus by themselves, but rather, Dabi/Touya is Icarus, while Hawks is the wings made of wax, carrying Dabi to his goal. 

With Dabi being in front of Hawks, it leaves it open to the idea that Hawks is holding/carrying Dabi and acting as the wings on his back in a more literal sense. But beyond just that, I want to bring your attention back to the full picture and how Hawks is PLACED. Hawks could’ve been facing forward in order to show him better, or his wings would have been more spread out but instead he’s turning away to show more of his wings, and the way they’re drawn, it’s almost like he’s using them as a shield, a barrier between Endeavor and Dabi. And what was the barrier/what was stopping Icarus from falling? His wings. 

The final parallel I want to draw between Dabi and Hawks story is this:

Dabi is sort of stuck on the ground as Touya, and while in becoming a villain, changing his name, joining the league and even getting a Nomu he gets a leg up with his goal to get closer to the sun (Endeavor) he’s still not quite there. Enter; Hawks. The number two hero with both connections in the hero world AND the skills to help him reach his goal in terms of fighting skill, he convinces Hawks to become his wings. Dabi doesn’t plan on it being anything permanent, so rather than forming a stronger bond and converting Hawks completely to his side, he lets him be just good enough to help him reach his goal, reach the sun, and Hawks strength and loyalty to Dabi is no stronger than the wax in the folk tale. Dabi takes Hawks and flies up to the sun to try and take him down, but because of Hawks loyalty still belonging to that of the heroes, and Dabi just not being strong enough, Hawks is melted away and Dabi is dropped into the ocean.

So what do I think this means exactly for Hawks’, Dabi’s, and Endeavor’s final battle? (as more than likely, we’re going to get one.)

Let me start out by saying, that I don't think that Hawks is going to die. is it possible and still totally on the table? Of course. But considering only a few arcs before we saw another pro hero die (Nighteye) I don’t think his death is necessary, when Horikoshi could get a much better plot point out of doing this:

In the final battle, Hawks will be left with a choice, heroes or villains, a black and white choice for a not so black and white issue, and while I don’t have many specifics of this fight worked out by any means (Please feel free to add on if you  have a better idea) but despite everything Dabi has told him and everything he’d seen of the heroes corruption, I think he’s going to pick the heroes side. Whether Dabi gets upset about that, or he chooses a bit too late, or even if he just get caught between them, Hawks will lose his wings as whichever icarus parallel you tie this to, (just his or their combined one) wings are melted, or lost. 

Looking back at what has happened with past pros we’ve seen focus on and even just plot points in general. Everything is paving way for Izuku to be the number one hero and to defeat AFO, which is why Izuku was given seven quirks, why All Might didn’t completely defeat AFO, only putting him in the best prison he could, why Endeavor will most likely step down, why Mirio was taken out with his quirk getting erased, etc. etc. 

If Hawks is no longer able to be a hero because he doesn’t have his wings, or is out of commission for whatever other reason, he can’t continue with his mission to take down the league, which, if taken down, would not be able to break AFO out of jail to lead to that final battle. 

But what about Dabi? What happens to him? Well let me tell you: Dabi is going to get arrested. 

Plain and simple. He’ll be out as Touya, and arrested at the end of the fight.

This, again, will contribute to the bringing down of AFO and the league. With one of their most powerful members stuck in jail, they’ll be weakened further. AND, with him being in prison, there’s an opportunity for him to be used as a plot point later to get information about the league to help the heroes. Who gets that information out of him (Shouto, All Might, or even Hawks) doesn’t matter, but I still think either way it would be an interesting plot point. 

In the end, my final point is thus; Hawks in himself, is not the only Icarus parallel within DabiHawks, and at the same time, neither is Dabi. Arguments can be made for both sides as to which one of them will show the most alignment with the folk tale, but with what I have presented I think that everyone should look at not one of them individually being Icarus or the sun, but rather, their relationship  making up Icarus, and Endeavor being the sun. 

Thank you.

Feel free to add on! I’d love to discuss.

[dibs4ever]

Dick Grayson Fatherhood

Dick loved being a father, honestly, he never put much thought or fantasy into being a dad one day but here he was an actual father for real and he loved it. It scared him. He worried constantly that somehow some baddie would figure out Nightwing had a kid and hold him against him. Or perhaps a criminal would want to kidnap Bruce Wayne/Commissioner Gordon’s Grandson And he acting as Nightwing will have to jump into action without leading on that they had his kid.

He’d have to hold back from killing someone if they as much of harmed his son.

His favorite thing to do with Nathan was to see how bendy he was. It sounded weird but it was the truth. At almost 8 months old Nathan was probably going to take his first steps any day. The doctor said he was advanced and that his keen balance skills might have spurred from his acrobatic genes. He loved seeing bits of himself in his son, he also loved seeing bits of Barbara, like the way he crinkled up his nose when he was concentrating. Or how quickly he picked up on baby sign language. He was also super attached to Barbara, which everyone joked he got from Dick.

Barbara. She was an amazing mother. He couldn’t have asked for someone better to be the mother of his child. He never imagined she’d be so attentive but she was. In fact, he almost got in a fight with Roy last week after he made a remark about how Barbara was “almost a hippy” mom. He knew he meant it as a joke but it still aggravated him.

“Batman says to go to 46th and 10th” Barbara pulled him out of his thoughts

He looked toward the bat-clad girl, he loved her so much. He wanted to be with her so badly, but he needed to respect her and her wishes to keep their co-parenting platonic.

Currently, they were on patrol together for the first time in over a year. Before he faked his death, before he returned to find her with his 6-week old son, before he bought an apartment for them to live in.

They had tried not to patrol together, wanting one of them to be with their son at all times. But tonight called for it. Joker had apparently set multiple hidden bombs off around Gotham set to go off at 1 am. Nightwing and Batgirl has to deactivate one on the West Side Village Apartment building. One of the largest in Gotham. Now they just needed to locate it and deactivate it.

“Why don’t you check the basement and I’ll check the lobby?” Batgirl suggested

Dick glanced at the clock “BG it’s 12:30”

Barbara nodded “I know Hunk Wonder, of we don’t find anything we meet back at the 3rd floor at 12:45.”

Nightwing smiled at her nickname “Right, don’t wanna cause a rage of panic unless we absolutely have to. “

Barbara nodded and they both jumped into separate directions

Dick searched and searched in hopes of finding the bomb but had no luck. He heard Batgirls communicator buzz in

“Hey Wing”

“Hey Red, I hope you’re calling to tell me you deactivated a bomb. Really don’t want to deal with panic stricken civilians”

“Unfortunately not”

Dick sighed glancing at the time-12:40 “Looks like we’re evacuating a building. Meet you in 5” he signed off before running to the stairs.

They opted to pull the fire alarm pinning it as the best way to get people out as quickly as possible. That didn’t mean they still didn’t have to convince some people to leave. Dick was aiding an elderly woman he had just spent the last 5 minutes convincing to leave. (She has only agreed when he told her he’d help her with carrying her cats out.) He passed Barbara as she was walking back into the building.

“Where are you going?” He asked

Barbara looked at him “Back in, doing a last go around”

Dick shook his head “It’s 12:55, get out of the building “

Barbara shook her head “No you “

Dick sighed “Babs I’ll do the last walk through” he handed the woman her cats and pushed her gently out

Barbara looked at him “Dick please one of us has to go out and make sure they are safe. For well you know who.”

Dick nodded “Which is why I’m telling you to get out now Barbara Please I’m begging you. He needs you more than me”

Barbara shook her head “I’m not leaving you”

“And I’m not leaving here till I know the building is empty” Dick said

Barbara looked at the time 12:56 “Well I guess that makes two of us” she thought perhaps he would agree to come out with her if she stood her ground. This had been her plan all along. She knew he’d want to keep going back and forth into the building. Testing his limits with time. She didn’t want to take a chance of losing him again. But he was walking back up the stairs again. She followed behind

Dick looked at her “Babs please”

She shook her head “No”

Dick bit his lip, “Damn it” he mumbled

Before she knew it he had scooped her up and was running with her out the door. He set her down “Stay” he growled before running back in. Which surprised her. She thought she had him.

She attempted to run back in but was stopped when the building exploded “No!” She screamed falling to her knees where she began sobbing. Then through the rubble, Dick walked back out. In his arms was a cat. The same old lady he had helped out last rushed forward he was able to hand it to her before falling to his knees. Barbara rushed over to him

“I promised-I’d save all her cats if she got out” he whispered

Barbara held his face in her hands, whipping off the soot that covered his cheeks “Oh Grayson” she whispered

“I don’t break promises” he started to chuckle but then began coughing

Barbara stood pulling his arm over her shoulders and helping him up “Let’s get you home so I can give you a check up”

Barbara did just as she promised after he showered she was ready to patch him up and give him a breathing treatment to help clear his lungs after some other treatments she ordered him to go to bed, which he wasn’t complaining about since he was honestly exhausted. He was awakened when his bedroom door creaked open. Although the room was dark he knew who it was. She waited till she crawled into the bed beside him to speak “Checking in on me?” He grinned

Barbara didn’t say anything for a while “You scared me today”

Dick was quiet for a moment “I’m sorry”

She took a deep breath “I thought I’d lost you again”

“Babs I get into this mode when I’m Nightwing and I don’t even know what I’m doing. I think about that now and think how careless it was so no need to lecture me.”

She nodded “I just-all these thoughts flashed before my eyes”

“When I saw the clock hit 1 it did for me too.”

Barbara looked at him “Like?”

Dick looked down at her “Like you moving on, marring some normal guy, and Nathan calling him daddy”

Barbara shook her head “That would never happen”

“Yeah your right, I already told Jason if anything happened to me he should marry you and raise my son“

Barbara grimaced at the thought “Did you really?”

Dick chuckled “No I didn’t Babs. But still the thought of another man raising him hurt”

Barbara hugged his waist resting her chin on his shoulder “That wouldn’t ever happen, Dick. Your an amazing Father to him. I can't even stand the thought of another man acting as his dad.”

Dick looked at her “Oh yeah? You don’t ever want to be with another man again? You just want to be single the rest of your life?”

Barbara scrunched up her nose confused at first but then realized what he was saying “I-I never thought of it like that”

Dick smiled “If its any conciliation I can’t see myself ever finding anyone to be a sizable mother to how amazing you are”

Barbara smiled

Dick smiled “So if we don’t want to be with anyone else, we’re both living together and we both have a baby together than why don’t we-“

Barbara shook her head “Dick”

Dick shifted “Come on Babs think about it”

She sighed

He shifted so that they were facing each other “The fact that you and I both don’t want to date anyone else. The fact that our son is so well adjusted with us together. We’re already living together-very happily I might add. We’re basically a couple who doesn’t show any affection toward each other.”

Barbara looked up in thought “But Dick, what would people assume.”

Dick shook his head “Who gives a flying leap about what people would assume. I love you and I know you still love me. We don’t want to be with other people so what’s the use in us being miserable and lonely when we can both just stop being stubborn and be together” he whispered pressing their foreheads together “If it helps we can keep the whole thing under wraps till we’re ready to tell people”

Barbara laughed lightly “Yeah cause keeping it under wraps from my dad worked so well last time. After you came back we kept from my dad that you were Nate’s father for what? A week?”

Dick chuckled “A week and 3 days thank you very much” he booped her nose then fell back to his back and thought back on the day “Grayson why do you keep calling my grandson Chavo? He said”

Barbara smiled and began playing with his hand “Well Commissioner, you see its Romani my father used to call me that” Barbara spoke the line Dick had said

Dick ran his free hand through Barbara’s hair “Oh really what does it mean?” He continued the story

She shook her head “Then you had to come out and say ‘Son’”

Dick nodded “And it all clicked”

Barbara rolled so she was resting on top of him “He wasn’t mad but he wasn’t happy he said, ‘What? When did this happen, I thought you two were just friends “

Dick laughed “You can yell at me all you want for slipping up with the son thing but at least I’m not the one who responded to that with ‘Seriously Dad, I thought you were the detective. We haven’t kept our hands off each other in years”

Barbara laughed “Hey its the truth” she ran a hand through his hair “He still loves all three of us though regardless. Unlike my grandmother” she rolled off him and lied beside him again.

Dick shifted “I really wish you’d make up with her. She’s the only Great Grandparent Nay Nay has.”

Barbara shook her head “Dick when we took him to the retirement home to meet her 5 months ago she took one look at you and before she even met you all she saw was your skin tone. Then when she figured out her great-grandson was half Romani all she did was ridicule us”

Dick was quiet “It’s just the generations she grew up in. Your dad stood up for us” he pointed

“She was wrong though. Everywhere I go people tell me how beautiful he is. I felt so bad the other day Artemis and I went to the park with the kids and this couple kept commenting on how cute Nathan was. How much they loved his eyes and his tan skin, how his smile was so beautiful. Meanwhile Arty was sitting there with the twins. Her and Wally’s kids are really cute too” Barbara made sure to address

Dick nodded “Yeah they are” he leaned forward “But you and I-we really did make a beautiful child together didn’t we?” She hadn’t retracted so he nuzzled her neck. And when she didn’t retract to that he began planted soft kisses in the crook of her neck

Barbara sighed “Okay”

He lifted his head up “Okay?”

“Let’s give us a go again. If not for us let’s do it for Nate. He deserves to have his parents together. The least we can do is tell him we at least tried to be together” she reached up running her fingers through his hair. A giddy smile growing on Dick’s face before he leaned forward placing a passionate kiss on her lips

“Does this mean I get to move into the master bedroom with you?” He asked pulling away slightly

Barbara grinned “We’ll see Lover, just keep kissing me” she said before pulling him back to her.

[askdrleland]

Dr. Kirk Langstrom: Session 1

(RP session with @ask-manbat for a therapy session back when Kirk was in Arkham. This mun is sloooooow….)

Joan arrived in her office early, determined to make the room look as welcoming as she could. The higher-ups had allowed her to do this initial session with Dr. Langstrom in the low-security room, but one incident would have him sentenced to future sessions in the cold, sterile high-security room where she interviewed the Joker and other high-risk patients. Joan refused to let that happen. She wanted Dr. Langstrom to be calm and was going to do her best to have the room be inviting as possible. 

Langstrom entered the room, accompanied by a guard. He was clearly nervous, as evidenced by his tensed body language and the way his eyes darted around the room as if looking for a way to escape. As the guard leaves, he shuts the door with a little more force than necessary causing Kirk to visibly flinch. He looks to Dr. Leland, unsure of what to say to introduce himself.

 "Doctor Langstrom," Joan said, noting his borderline panic. She took a single step forward and extended her hand for him to shake. She left just enough room so he'd need to also step forward to accept the gesture, a test of his courage while also respecting his space. "My name is Doctor Joan Leland. I'm glad you've come."

Kirk eyed her for a brief moment before stepping forward to shake her hand. “Nice to meet you, Dr. Leland.” He says briefly before quickly stepping back. “I suppose I’m here so you can ‘fix’ me?” He says warily, preparing himself for her answer 

"No, I am not going to 'fix' you, Dr. Langstrom," Joan replied, keeping her voice soft. "I am here to listen to you and try to understand you and your problems." 

“You’ll understand why I’m hesitant to believe you, of course” he says, a slight bitterness to his voice, resisting the urge to step back to the door, instead beginning to fidget with his hands and look anywhere but at Leland

"You came in with Harvey and Harv, if I'm not mistaken. The latter does not particularly care for psychiatrists in general." Joan tucked a stray hair behind her ear and turned to sit in her armchair. "You can sit if it makes you more comfortable. I'd just like to ask you a few questions." 

Kirk takes a moment, blinking in surprise. “Yes... I did come in with them, and it’s hardly any surprise after what they’ve been through.” He hesitates, looking from the chair to Leland before sitting down stiffly. “So what have they told you to ask about me?” He sighs, preparing for the usual insults and slander 

"Depends which 'they' you mean," Joan commented lightly. "My colleagues have their individual opinions, but they don't control these sessions. The other Rogues probably want me to ask you nothing or solely standard questions. And my bosses don't care, so long as I can show them signs of improvement. Simply put, there is no 'they' that has told me to do anything; this session is entirely of my own creation and I would not have it any other way." Picking up her pen, Joan readied it over her notepad. "Do you know why you've been brought to Arkham specifically?"

Kirk takes a moment, caught off guard before sighing heavily. “Well, the commissioner said it was because I was running from the police, in company with a ‘wanted criminal’, and...” he cuts off, looking at the floor and beginning to fidget with his ring. Staring at the floor, he finished his sentence “and because of, well... Man-Bat” he finished off quietly with a small shrug, beginning to slouch in the chair almost trying to make himself smaller 

"As I understand it, you are a separate individual from Man-Bat," Joan remarked, making a note of Kirk's tone on her notepad. "Yet the legal system believes that the creation of your alter ego is evidence enough to commit you to Arkham Asylum's care. Being with Harvey and fleeing the police aren't normally enough to warrant residency here--I imagine you can fill in the blanks." She made another note and looked over the man before her, her brow furrowing ever so slightly as she saw him trying to hide. An anxious tic--one he was likely doing unconsciously. "What have you thought about your stay here so far, Dr. Langstrom?"

He stopped to consider a moment, eyeing the notepad warily. “Well, it certainly isn’t pleasant,” he begins, sounding almost bitter again. “I  have already seen a rat and cockroach in my cell, and the guards have been doing nothing but giving me dirty looks since I arrived” he sighs, giving another small shrug. “I’m not sure what sort of answer you expected, but I apologize if that wasn’t it” 

Joan frowned. Passive aggressive behavior wasn't uncommon from the guards, but it was hardly acceptable regardless. She'd have to talk to them again. "I'm sorry the conditions have been less than ideal--Arkham is a constant state of change and some things fall by the wayside when its in such flux. But you've had no trouble with the other residents? No threats or snide remarks?" 

Kirk had to stop and think for a moment before answering. “Well, I really can’t think of anything, it feels like everyone here has just been ignoring me. Which is fine by me” he quickly adds, before taking a moment to finish his sentence. “Well, nothing from anyone in Arkham, and not to my face so far” he trails off, beginning to look uncomfortable once again 

"Does Arkham itself feel threatening or stressful? A lot of patients struggle in adjusting to the strict time regiments and the high-security wing where you've been staying is very spartan." Joan set her pen down and studied Kirk again. Closed-off body language, limited responsiveness--everything about him all but screamed of stress.

He begins to speak quietly “I, I don’t know, I’m locked in a prison, surrounded by murderers, because of a stupid mistake I made that I cannot fix. So yes, I would say Arkham feels a little stressful!” He snaps, leaning forward and quickly growing more frustrated until he practically shouted the end of the sentence. As if realizing what he had done, he froze, a look of regret and fear crossing his face. He began to curl into himself again, looking down as he grabbed at his hair and began muttering apologies 

"There is no need to apologize; I know full well that the questions I ask can feel probing." Joan resisted the instinct to write down her observation of Kirk's reaction, knowing it wouldn't help. "Arkham can be a difficult place to live, but the whole goal of the Asylum is to grant you the time and resources to work through your difficulties, to move beyond past mistakes. As your assigned therapist, I am your ally. You can come to me with any concerns. 

"In fact," she added, straightening in her seat, "do you have any questions you'd like to ask me? Anything at all--no limitations, barring patient confidentiality." 

Kirk took a breath, trying his best not to give Dr. Leland anything more to write down or be ‘concerned’ about. He then sat up, though still holding onto his arms and refusing to look at Leland. He thought for a moment, then began to speak quietly again, afraid of another outburst. “Why... why did they really bring me here? To Arkham, to you, what’s their goal in any of this? They can’t get rid of Man-Bat, I have tried, and I’ve never- he’s never hurt anyone. What are they trying to do to him in all of this? To me?” He says, finally looking at her, tired, sad and desperate, almost afraid of her answer.

"There are too many individual reasons to list--each party has their own reasons. Simply put, however, the public is afraid of Man-Bat. They don't know what he's capable of and as his alter ego, they consider you equally guilty of his potential to hurt others. The police are sensitive to those sorts of opinions and some of them agree. It's an unfair, biased reasoning, but unfortunately that's what has you here." Joan brushed her hair back behind her ear, letting out a sigh. "There is no goal from the populace and the authorities and courts simply want you--as the Jekyll to Man-Bat's Hyde-- contained. An honest shame." 

“Oh” he says quietly, looking down into his lap again and swallowing. He begins to fidget with his hands again, twisting his ring around his finger and refusing to look up at Dr. Leland. He attempts to steady his breathing, trying his best to avoid revealing what he was thinking or feeling, or anything that may cause him to stay “contained” at Arkham forever. 

"However, you should know that I feel differently. Quite strongly, in fact." The doctor set aside her notepad and folded her arms. "I feel that you have been unfairly committed. As you said, Man-Bat has caused no intentional harm to Gotham and hasn't hurt anyone. The reasoning behind the order for your placement is, in my opinion, faulty; you should not have been brought here simply because your alter is unique in his presentation." Joan stood, looking down at the anxious man before her. "I want to help you get released, Dr. Langstrom," she said gently. "And perhaps help you figure out a few helpful things as I do it."

He nodded, just barely, still refusing to look at Dr. Leland. “I don’t know, I mean, what if they’re right? I don’t want to stay here, I don’t want to be here, and I want to trust that you can do something to help get me out of here, but... is there really any way to fix... this?” He finishes, gesturing to himself. 

"That all depends on you," Leland said frankly. "Do you want to prove your critics wrong? Do you want to see improvement in your life? I may be a doctor, but I cannot force you to make any changes or even listen to what I have to say. Therapy is a joint effort between doctor and patient, so I need to know if you are willing to work with me on this."

Kirk takes a moment before speaking. “I... yes. I want to get better and fix things and-“ he cuts off, looking up at Dr. Leland. “I want to leave Arkham” he states, finally sounding sure of himself, “whatever it takes, I need to get out of here. Please”

Joan nodded, smiling. "That is the perfect place to start."

[memaha19]

Gotham 05x11 “They Did What?”

The penultimate episode of Gotham! And it has a weird title! I’m gonna miss this show, guys.

Also, side note, this is the second time I’m writing this post because I just finished typing all my thoughts and my freakin’ internet freaked out and closed my browser window and deleted everything I wrote. 🙃

SECOND SIDE NOTE: I wrote this last week but was at a work training all week and forgot to post. So I haven't seen the final episode yet either. 🙃

Anyway...spoilers below!

It feels like it’s been 84 years *cue that Titanic GIF* since the last episode

Just a note before we begin: this episode, like the last, feels like it has some weird pacing problems and makes me wonder, again, how this season would’ve panned out if they had been given the normal number of episodes. There were a lot of things that felt like they just happened so quickly/easily/conveniently, for no other reason than the time constraint. Jim and Barbara took Nyssa down pretty easily, Bruce and Selina defeated Bane pretty quickly, Bane and his groupies gave up pretty easily at the end, etc. I just wonder how some of the plot would’ve been handled if the show had gotten the chance to sloooooow down this season.

I thought for sure at the end of that last episode that Alfred was going to die (even though I also knew he would be fine?) so I’m glad he’s okay, just a little worse for wear.

It looks like someone taught David how to say “Ra’s” correctly in between last episode and this one because he finally said it right!

There’s just something about Nyssa/her actress that I don’t enjoy and that makes me glad that she’s only in a few episodes. Is it her voice? Her line delivery? Her (lack of) acting skills? Her giant lips? I’m not sure. 

Barbara looks great for being just a few hours postpartum. Like you know that if this wasn’t Gotham, she’d still be lying down in a hospital bed but instead she’s looking fierce in her coat and stilettos like she didn’t just push a baby out of her lady parts. 

Also the baby is suffering from the syndrome that many TV/movie babies suffer from, where they’re played by a baby that is several months old and we’re supposed to pretend that this GIANT baby was just born.

Everyone in the GCPD and the army must be terrible shots...? They’re fighting in such a small, uncovered space and literally no one is getting hit by anything. 

Except Oswald. But he’s gotta get that monocle somehow!

One of my favorite funny moments was Oswald asking Ed how his eye looked and Ed trying to tell him it wasn’t that bad and choking in the middle of his sentence.

Barbara snapping that guy’s neck with her leg is making me question my sexuality.

This is the Jim Gordon that I like. The one who is kind and who makes good decisions and who isn’t like “imma take the baby and raise it with Lee and Barbara is going to jail” and who doesn’t drop Barbara like a hot potato the second Lee shows up.

The Jim/Babs scenes in this episode are so soft and lovely and friendly. I love seeing them team up. It almost makes me able to forget and forgive the travesty that was “The Trial of Jim Gordon” that was so all over the place that it seemed like it was written by someone who had never seen the show. But OH WAIT it was written by the lead actor.

Also this episode has made me change my mind and I’m back to my initial opinion that Jim, Barbara, and baby make a cute little family and Lee needs to gtfo.

Speaking of Lee, I’ve liked her more in these last few episodes than I’ve ever liked her before, but I still don’t like her. I just feel like...what is she here for? She’s this weird cardboard character that is always in the scenes, but what does she really add? All the sudden she’s concerned about the Narrows? Even though she’s abandoned them this whole season. And then she heads to the GCPD to “help” but all we see is her bossing other people around. LEE, YOU ARE THE DOCTOR, DO IT YOURSELF. And then she abandons the Narrows people and leaves Barbara to take care of them and goes outside to die with Jim? It’s like they don’t know that to do with her and haven’t known for a long time but she’s banging Ben McKenzie so they can’t make her go away.

Barbara was able to just find a baby sling somewhere in the GCPD for her giant newborn. 

That Barbara/Lee hug...eh...

Okay, so. While I am thrilled that it seems like Barbara is going to get to be a mom and isn’t going to have the baby taken away from her, the strange throuple of Jim/Lee/Barbara is one of the parts of this season that I feel is being wrapped up a little too neatly. It wasn’t that long ago that we had to sit through that lovely episode where everyone was like “oh yes, Lee, YOUR baby” and Barbara was going to run away and Oswald was telling her that Jim would never see her as anything other than a dangerous criminal trying to keep his child away from him. And now, a mere TWO episodes later, Lee and Barbara are hugging. And Barbara seems to have changed her mind about not wanting Jim to have anything to do with the baby. And Lee and Jim seem to have changed their “Barbara is a dangerous psychopath” opinion. Don’t get me wrong, I’m so happy to see a story in which Barbara gets to keep her baby and I loved the scenes between Jim and Barbara, but this is definitely one of the parts of this season that I feel could’ve benefited from more episodes at a slower pace. I’ve been saying for awhile that the writers seem unable to write Barbara consistently and her story line and her relationship with Jim once she found out she was pregnant has been up and down like a roller coaster. I’ll be re-watching Gotham from the beginning once this last season gets put on Netflix so I’ll be interested to watch all the episodes at once and see if the inconsistency is as bad as I remember.

I think part of the problem is that the way that everyone was treating Barbara and talking about the baby in “The Trial of Jim Gordon” is throwing off my general picture of the season. That episode seemed so off base and out of wack. I think I can believe that the current Jim/Lee/Babs relationship is a little more possible if I ignore that episode. 

 I’ll be interested to see the throuple in the last episode, since the preview made it look like they’re all still chillin’ together. I’d like some scenes of them all awkwardly co-parenting little baby Babs.

The bats! The spooky moon! The music! Batman is here!

That must’ve been one moving (and quick!) speech that Barbara gave the Narrows people to have them all come outside and stand with the GCPD. And also it seemed a little too easy, like, NOW the army is having second thoughts about killing civilians? NOW they realize they can overtake Bane & Company? This is one of those plot points that I feel was wrapped up way too easily after all the build up.

That line where Jim asks Lee if her disobeying him is going to be a regular thing is very CRINGE. Ew. Like I don’t even like Lee but I was still like “ew Jim you don’t own her”

The weird little cuddle Selina tries to give Bruce while they’re sitting on the stairs at the GCPD was strange.

So Ed wasn’t able to pilot the submarine by himself but are we supposed to believe that Nyssa could and escaped with Edward the Dog? 

Barbara Lee Gordon! Maybe not a big fan of that middle name, but...also I like how Barbara told Jim that she named the baby “Barbara” and Jim’s first reaction was “...oh” before she told him the rest of the name. 😂

Also I’m really glad that Gotham went the “Barbara is just That Bitch that names her baby after herself” route instead of the “Barbara dies in some dumb way and Lee and Jim name the baby after her to honor her after her death” route; I was afraid for pretty much this entire season that all of Barbara’s crazy story lines would just end in her dying in some martyr-like ending that I breathed a deep sigh of relief to see that she’ll make it to the end.

Commissioner Gordon! That seems like that happened fast!

I normally really like Ed but something about that last scene where he’s talking in a Batman-wannabe growl and staring at himself in a mirror was weird.

Also, Gotham, come on, not again with that BROTHERS stuff.

Gotham just did BatCat real dirty. Like, Bruce just leaves Selina a note?! He knew he was gonna leave and they just have him leave her a note?! He can’t even say goodbye in person?!

“I never tried to replace your parents. But I want you to know, Master Bruce, that you are the only son that I’ll ever have, and I could not be more proud.” I was in tears during this scene. And the Batman-esque music was perfect.

(LOL remember when my first Gotham post for this season was only like 10 bullet points long. They just keep getting longer. 😂)

Anyway, overall, I thought this episode was really good, and it’s because we finally had the return of nice!Jim Gordon and some nice moments between him and Barbara. There were some weird pacing problems and some things that felt like they resolved a little too conveniently, but I enjoyed it overall.

The finale is soon! It’s gonna be a little weird to not have some of the younger actors in the flash forward, but I’m excited to see how they’re gonna wrap everything up and what our favorite Gotham residents are up to 10 years later

Also I’m living for ginger!Barbara.

One more to go. ❤