#and then suddenly out of the blue Clark breaks up with him and Bruce has been adopted by some child

[violent138]

Some people get haircuts to deal with major life events, Bruce just goes and adopts new kids.

[livingz0mbee]

Synopsis: Batfamily; Tim, Dick, Jason , Damian, Bruce.. get teleported to some alternate universe where they’re all women. The witch who gets them there promises she’ll let them go once they help her. Whatever that is.

Note: This is from me daydreaming constantly, so if anyone seems op then it’s because it’s my mind 😭. I needed to let it out and decided to write, dk if i’ll finish it.

Warnings: Bruce’s version is Black, Which makes Damian’s version Mixed. OOC idrc just for funsies, Tim’s ver has slight anxiety. Coming out, Gun mentions, I’m pretty sure stab mentions, BirdFlash at the end there. Not much in here honestly Just a bunch of yap, The story jumps a lot.. cuz this is me making my daydream into a fan fiction .

What happened? How had they ended up here? Why the fuck is clark a woman? Dicks head pounded as all he could recall was reaching out to tim before some sort of green thunder striked both of them. He’d have to find Tim, once his eyes adjusted to the blue and red blur infront of him, he was greeted with a huge grin and a hand.

“Hi! My name Is Claire, I know you! Don’t you know me?” she asked as she grips his shoulder, easily pulling him up. Dick groaned, giving her a small smile, “I think you.. might have the wrong guy.” He spoke, patting her bicep to signal for her to put him down. She set him down before eyeing him. Her mouth made an ‘O’ shape. “Teleported here by some magical witch? Yeah probably, Anyway let me take you to the league! You won’t believe your eyes! Wait till you see your mo- well dad- I’m not sure.” She kept blabbering, not giving Dick much time to respond before she picked him up bridal style, boosting into the air in almost milliseconds, zooming to The justice leagues tower.

Okay. This is even Crazier. He sat next to his father; who was on his right, Jason on his left, Damian sitting next to Bruce on the right, and Tim next to Damian. They all had.. confused looks on their faces as they made direct contact with the.. justice league? The flash was a woman, her blonde hair flowing down her sides as Jordan, Yes first name Jordan, leaned into her ear, whispering. She covered her mouth as they both laughed a bit. She tried looking away from Damian but she couldn’t help herself. She threw her head back, her laugh cutting through the silence as Jordan slammed her fist on the table, holding her stomach. What could be so funny? Well Wonder Woman was still Female, so.. what was the issue?

Claire cleared her throat her voice more serious, Bailey stopped her laughing, breathing as she wiped her tears. “Sorry, Sorry.” she nudged Jordan once more and they giggled before turning their attention to Claire. “I know you’re all confused, but I’ll explain..” She stood up and adjusted her glasses. “Around … erm I guess 2 weeks ago..” she glanced at Jordan Who shook her hand from side to side before nodding. “Two weeks ago, a lady came here, saying that this world was going to break? Something with it colliding with another verse.. I don’t really know, But our dear Miss wayne-” Damian suddenly stood up with his arms crossed over his chest, “Miss?” he sat down staring daggers at SuperWoman, bruce put a hand on his shoulder, shaking his head. “Yes.. miss? Can you not tell? This world is almost completely opposite of yours. Most of your Men.. are Women with few women being men.

She held out her hand, gesturing towards bruce. “Like you for example. In this Universe your name is … uhm.. how about she com-” interrupted once more, a slightly high pitched voice cutting through her, a dark corner of the room revealed Damian’s counterpart, emerging from the shadows, glaring at Damian. “Danielle. How can you forget? Aren’t you ..” she looked Claire up and down, “super?” she finished before she sat right across from Damian, the long table giving her and Damian some.. needed space. Jason grumbled, “The same damn person.” Claire raised her hand, “Can I finally speak without a pre pubescent child interrupting me?” her hands on her knees as she made a pouty face at both children, Danielle flicked her off earning a Smirk from Damian. “As I was saying.. you’re all female here. Uhm, Jason is just Jaclyn, but I call her lynn! She hates me sorta. Uhm Dick is still Rikkie, By the way, Spelled R-I-K-K-I-E. We just call her Rick Or kie, yknow dick wouldn’t really match but that’s what her siblings call her sometimes. Interesting choice the bunch. Tim is well, Tam, now that i’m thinking about it.. I wouldn’t..” she shook her head.

Jason chuckled as he kept repeating it to Tim, leaning over so he could see him, “Tam, holy fuck what a name.”. Tim didn’t think it was funny, but Danielle giggled. “Well How about I call our dear bat! Wouldn’t it be fresh to meet them?” Claire pulled out her phone, scrolling a bit before she ringed a number. “Speaker, Speaker!” Bailey Yelped as she sped over to Claire, Jordan got up as well as they crowded around each other. Danielle huffed, how was she the first here. “Hello?” A husky voice spoke from the other side, it gave Bruce a shiver, was that.. him? Bailey was the first to speak practically shaking. “Batsy! Come quick you’ll wanna see this! it’s like you but it’s a GUY! and it’s like all your little kids but they’re like guys too!” she had snatched claire’s phone screaming into the mic, She handed it to Jordan who giggled, “Your little devil spawn is here too. With her little boy version. Ugh.. I don’t know how you do it..” Claire took the phone, scoffing. “Sorry, Wayne it seems their.. excited for your reaction. Might be the first we get from you in a while. Just Bring your kids, No need for cass or duke.. Just the birdies. Oh no Steph either.” It was a moment of silence, the sound of a page flipping, “Alright. I’ll be there soon, Suits or..?”

Her voice was silky and Jason groaned in Disgust as he saw Jordan and Bailey jump up in down, Fangirling as if this wasn’t their coworker. “Suits or no suits, all we need is you and them.” the phone made a beep sound, signaling she had hung up. “As I was saying.. That witch, she said something bad was going to happen that involves me and she needed all the ‘Wayne blood that she could possibly get’ uhm whatever that means. But she didn’t say much before she teleported away, then yknow now we’re here.” Bruce narrowed his eyes through his mask, glancing at dick from the side who looked back at him in a questioning way. “Now we wait.” Claire sat in a chair next to Jordan, walking down the the long tables opposite side of bruce, Bailey scrambled next to her practically tripping over feet as she kept chanting “You think she’s gonna wear the suit? Oh god let her wear the suit! I might pass out she’s so hot.” she squat down, looking down as she shook her head. What the hell was up with her and this Batwoman being so Hot???

A few minutes went by and a knock on the door was heard. Jordan Stood up and opened the door, groaning when she saw Jasons Counterpart, “Oh you can’t be fucking serious.” Danielle said as she turned around, “Even Pam is better than you.” she held up the middle finger once more mouthing a ‘fuck you’ Jay slid through the door, mumbling something about children and puberty and disrespect. She didn’t even notice the 3 Boys staring at her, jaws to the floor.

Her streak of white hair covered almost the first part of her hair, a good chunk on the left, the right side being significantly shorter. She wore Her Red hood suit, Gun in her right hand as she slid it into her holster. her sleeves were rolled up similar to jason’s as she held up her middle finger back at danielle. “Man fuck you kid. I promise Once you get past the age of 8 physically… oooh.. don’t let me… don’t let me near you..” she growled , eye twitching as Danielle stuck out her tounge.

That’s when she noticed the Boys staring at her. More so the Boy that Looked identical to her. “Holy Shit. Is that me? like gender swapped?” She lifted a brow, and pointed her finger at him before she looked at Danielle who nodded, “Unfortunately, it’s as ugly as you.” Jay Balled her hand into a fist as she pounced, screaming at Danielle as someone held her back. “AHH! *** YOU ********* KISS MY **** WAIT TILL I **** JUST **KIN WAIT.?!!?!” she said as she clawed at her. Danielle held her hand up to her mouth, gasping. “How rude.” she said as her face changed into a smirk. “Look, Pam meat is here to help you!” Danielle said as Tam struggled to hold Jay back,

“She’s just a kid! Weren’t you like that!!” she huffed, clearly out of breath.. Her boots slid against the floor as Jay kept fighting her. She wore basically the same as tim, Instead of long pants, it stopped at shorts, Her cape was smaller and she didn’t have her mask on. Jay stopped pointing as she chuckled. “Just wait kid.” Tam sat her down , putting a space between the two of them. “Is your name really Tam?” Tim grimaced as he stared at her. Literally him, just had longer hair. She scanned every last inch of his face with a small smile. “No. It’s actually Tammy, Every calls me Me’Me.” she was clearly shy, Before she realized what she said moving her hands frantically as she shrugged; “W-well you know Tam too cuz that’s short for y-yknow tammy but we all knew that right??” Jay planted a hand on her shoulder and laughed, “Chill, not that deep bro.” she sighed, placing her head in her hands.

Claire Coughed, gaining their attention. “Where’s Your mother, and her little acrobat?” She kept glancing into the dark corners which didn’t go unnoticed by bruce. “They were right behind me.” Tams voice was muffled by her hands which made her sulk even more. “So.. surely they’re in here right?” Jordan said. still standing by the door, speak of the devil, Someone knocked at the door as voices could be heard. Something like ‘get your nose out of the book! this is a meeting’ and a grumble. Jordan opened the door, A suited Female version Of dick walked in, and dick smiled. So he’s hot in every universe?

She walked in her hands making a ‘follow me’ motion in which a black boot stepped through the door, The mood switched in seconds, Bruce’s stare never wavering. A woman walked in, Her hair In curls with an eye having a cut over it, that same eye was white as she held a brown book in her hands, her mask was held in her hand as she shook Jordan’s hand. Which made jordan Turn to bailey and silently jump and smile. Rik Stood behind Her mother, placing her hands on her shoulders, popping up with a ‘tadaa!’.

She smiled patting Waynes shoulder, whispering something in her ear. “And Dick has arrived. Ironic name for someone wit-” wayne interrupted her, putting her hand up to Danielle, that shut her up quick and Jay snorted. Jordan went to sit down, before noticing her green lantern suit disappearing. “Are you serious Bree?” She looked over to Wayne, who had her ring flipping between her fingers. “Focus.” flicking the ring back towards Jordan as she shook her head. What an Entrance, shutting up her daughter with one small movement, along with stealing the ring with a small movement. Obviously she had noticed her male counterpart, but paid no attention, clearly not caring. She wasn’t… never mind. Rik took off her mask and waved at Jay giving her kisses back to back, ‘i 💚 you she mouthed to jay who visibly cringed. Making the heart shape and everything. Ugh..

Claire explained everything , being met with Jay almost leaving three times due to “Oh fuck no” and “Multiverse Bullshit, Get me out..” but Rikkie brought her back, soothing her in her own strange way. Everyone stared at Bree waiting for her response. Her bottom face was covered by the book she had her nose in and she peeked up when Bruce spoke, he had taken off his mask and he questioned her back story. “Mind if I ask you, what’s.. how.. did it happen?” the room became thick as Bruce stared right through her soul. Bree sighed, placing down her bruce. Her skin was A tone of brown, which explained why Danielle’s skin was significantly darker than Damian’s. She thought of how to start.

“Well. I’m not from Gotham. I was raised somewhere In Georgia, but my mom died in…” she paused, face scrunching up. “She died in a shooting. Common in the area I was living in, my father took me in, before he told me he wasn’t good for me. He wasn’t able to take care of me and sent me to an orphanage. Luckily That’s when.. I guess Mom came. They had a vactation in Georgia and they went to orphanages. Luckily They found me and took me in. I got a plane back to gotham and for some reason.. My father was mad at that.. I’ll never know why.” bruce interrupted her, “Perhaps Jealousy? Better life.” bree nodded in agreement. “Perhaps.”

“He killed them, Cold blood, In public, Everyone saw, anyone who tried to help he held them at gunpoint. Someone had accidentally shot me trying to shoot him. You know how traumatic kids memory goes, you either remember every last detail or your brain completely wipes it from your memory. I had the latter. Everything is a blur and I only remember little parts. I don’t know who or what saved me.” Bree fiddled with her thumbs, making direct eye contact with Bruce. Dicks eyes softened. She was definitely more open. Rikkie pulled out her phone, typing something before leaning over and handing it to Tam, who glanced at it, then handing it to Jay, who’s head snapped over to Rikkie ‘No.’ she mouthed and shook her head. Rikkie nodded, making her best puppy dog eyes before Jay rolled her eyes and nodded.

A few hours later, Jay and Rikkie were running around, well more like Rikkie chasing Jay, pleading for her to go see a movie together. “We haven’t done anything since we were kids!” “No.” “Please!!” “No.” “PLEASSE.” rikkie was on her knees grabbing at her sisters knees basically ripping her pants, Jay Cringedd kicking her legs violently as to get her off. “Damn! Okay fine! Just get the hell off of me??!” with one final wiggle of her leg, Rikkie sprang off, Easily doing some sort of backflip onto her feet. She cheered tears instantly drying on her face. Jason watched and laughed at Jay before Dick said the four of them should all go. “NO!” both jay and Jason said, Instantly turning to look at dick who put his hands up defensively.

Bree sighed as she made MeMe a cup of coffee, sliding it over to her. She thanked her mother before she held out her hand. Bree took it, using her other hand to read her book. “Something the matter, My Dove?” Almost everyone Turned to look at them, besides Danielle who was kneading some sort of bread with Damian.

MeMe felt her face heat up at the sudden onlookers. She walked around the table, never letting go of her mother’s hand, coffee forgotten on the other side. “I need to talk to you.” Bree made a symbol with her hand and MeMe nodded, feeling her eyes gloss over. Bree sat her book down and let her daughter guide her. “Dove?” Bruce, Jason, and Tim asked, looking at an unbothered Danielle. “Are you Guys idiots? Robin- the bird, Dove- a bird..? Obviously makes sense.” “What does she call you ducky too?” Damian quipped which led to a ball of flour being thrown into his face, he coughed as Jay snickered.

“No you imbecile. Ugh, Disgusting. Anyways- Put a tea spoon of vanilla extract.” Damian followed directions, clearly annoyed. In the other room, Brees gaze on MeMe was gentle. MeMe felt herself struggle to breathe, not wanting to be outcasted of any sort once she said something. “Mo-m” she choked out. She was already crying. She knew it was coming. “I-i-i think I like girls.” It was silent. She looked up to see her moms face sad, but also gentle, her one brown eye seeming more full of disappointment than hatred. She flinched before feeling her mother’s hand on her cheek, wiping the tears off her face.

“What’s wrong with that?” “Are you not upset? l-like the possibility of not having children or something religious?” Bree hummed, admiring her daughter’s beauty. “No.” her response was flat, “Never really wanted grandchildren, Just need you guys. And I’ve never really been religious. Speaking of being gay.. your sister Rik, used to have a crush on KF. They kissed once on her 14th birthday. I saw but never told her.” MeMe laughed, before her eyes opened and she Stood up. “Wait- Seriously? Oh. My. God. I’m totally using that.” MeMe said as she kissed her mom’s forehead, jumping over the couch and heading back into the kitchen. Bree chuckled as she heard a booming laugh from jason, along with a “NO? NO? HOW DOYOU- NEVER I NEVER DID THAT! WH- IT WAS A ONE TIME THING!” she heard a mention of birdflash before she entered the room.

Sliding towards her book, she attempted at leaving but her eldest knew her too well. “MOM?” she turned around, trying to hide her laugh. She slowly backed up the stairs “what? i saw you guys, i thought it was cute, explore while your young, your still friends right?” bree kept going rik flailed her arms around, “Sh-sh-Sh!! I was 14! Why would you tell the biggest mouth her 12 years later! My reputation is ruined! I’m gonna get called ‘birdflash’ by this booming- this booming lesbian now!” she stomped her foot as her mom shrugged. Jay was laughing and pointing at her, as she fell onto the floor. “Oh my god! Oh my god! Fucking BirdFlash! Golden! That’s fucking hilarious.”

“It’s not funny LYNN” “It so is funny DICK.” Jay stood up, still laughing slightly as she kept reapeating it, “Why would you kiss speed kid? out of all people!” Jay couldn’t help but start laughing again clutching onto a wall for support. Riks face was red and she couldn’t help but groan; “14! I was a kid Guys! Haven’t you ever done something stupid as a kid! Well not saying i regret it but- UGH you know what I mean.” Danielle chuckled as her and Damian finished backing whatever cake pops they were doing. “I’ve never regretted anything.” dani spoke as she popped a few cake pops into some cream, coating them in sprinkles shortly after. Rik rolled her eyes, “Need I remind you of the Tim you wanted to Challenge me to a fight because your so clearly stronger? Who wasn’t able to patrol for two weeks?” Rik asked looking around. Danielle growled, “You got lucky Dick”

[the-hype-on-tv]

okay this is it imma bout to rant about fiction once again

tell me why everyone knows and loves or at least has a strong opinion about the Lego Batman Movie, but i might just be the only human being who grew up IN LOVE with the Lego Batman Videogame(s)???

[THIS THING CONTAINS SPOILERS, I TRIED TO KEEP EM OUT BUT WHATS THE FUN IN THAT]

the first one is CLASSIC, no voice actors so child me could (and also couldn't cuz i was stupid) understand what was going on since I didn't speak english at all, and i remember LOVING the designs (they're not as good as i remember 😭) even tho i had no idea who the characters besides batman, robin and catwoman were. also that was when i fell in love with poison ivy cuz she had like ??? love powers (as i said, child me was a dumdum) cuz there was this one level where she controlled batman with a kiss akjdkakfkakdja

i remember i had a crush on justin bieber a little before the second game came out (it was babybabybabyohh) and then BOOM suddenly my childhood crush was a friggin blocky plastic minifigure wearing goth furry clothes:

(also, young me wouldn't know, but this is where i got most of the superbat vibes from-- when i saw this ship years later i was like "oh yeah, i remember in the videogame clark was head over heels for B and bruce was like 'i am the knight' which is batman code for ilyt", plus dick (who's dressed at tim for whatever reason) is like "oh yeah, why don't we call superman?" I'm telling ya he ships it

...i remember the whole game story like it's a fever dream i had-- there's an award show which bruce wins, joker jokers it up and batman & robin chase him, then i remember robin says something about how "dick grayson couldn't attend the party because they didn't take teenagers" (I didn't know who dick was so this was my introduction to him) and then fire in the elevator, SUPERMAN, [SPOILERS] he and bats visit lexcorp but turns out the other gay couple aka lex and joker did some lexing and jokering around and got a weapon that kills... black???? so batman would die-- but like-- he's not black, he's wearing black clothes-- oh shit, are they racist-- /j

now comes the final one:

wow this one is in space! kinda-- brainiac shows up and i remember this was the first time i saw j'onn and-- wait-- this robin is the same but-- in the scene where [SPOILER] batman is being mind controlled he says his name is.. tim drake?? who tf is tim drake, kid me would say. wow, there's more than one robin, kid me would say.

but then again, I didn't have this game cuz my dad was sick of spending our lunch money on videogames, so he got a gameplay online (just the cutscenes), glued them together and told me IT WAS A MOVIE (actually, i just assumed it) and i kept believing that until i saw my friend GAMEPLAYING said movie on his VIDEOGAME, one more evidence to "i was a dumb child.

and there was superbat shit in this one as well!! there's this scene where [SPOILERS] big blue babyboy is being mind controlled and is giant (tbh idek why he's giant and I'm not sure if they address why-- something to do with brainiac's shrinking kink i think) and brainiac is like "kill him" and bruce goes like "clark, ur my bestie, I don't say it often but i realized i gotta say it more cuz earlier tim almost got his ass eaten by a random alien and i felt fear" and clark is like "🥺🥺🥺" and mind control breaks with yay power of friendship (the whole plot is how in the beginning tim saying he was tim got bruce out of mind control which meant bruce cares about tim but bruce thinks it was cuz the batmobile went shock on him, so in the end he admits he was wrong and everyone hugs wow)

and after that i forgot dc was a thing until like four years later when dc superhero girls came out

anyway, thanks tumblr for listening to this lmao i just dumped my whole childhood in here, I'm glad this thing don't have character limit

[superklutzkent]

Do you have any clean timkon fic recs?

i went in search of some just for you anon

See What You Wanna See

As horrible as it sounded, the young clone of Superman had spent half his life not getting along with the world and as such, had learned to get along without it. But Tim wasn't like that. Tim needed people to function. It was the one trait Bruce wished his son hadn't inherited from him. Conner Kent could survive getting his heart broken. Tim Drake could not. And Bruce Wayne was not going to lose another son. Or, Bruce doesn't understand what Tim could possibly see in Kon. Until, of course, he does.

~~~

What's Real and What Isn't

Kon’s eyes almost glow in the dark, a luminescent blue so vivid Tim almost can’t stand looking at them, though he has a harder time trying to look away from them. “I thought you were having a nightmare or something. Your heart was beating so hard it woke me up.” Tim feels himself a flush. He can’t even sleep without bothering someone else. “Oh,” He replies, voice small. “Sorry. I’m fine, you can go back to sleep.” “You’re shaking,” Kon points out and Tim curses internally.

~~~

Think Cupid, But Aim Lower

"Well", Bruce ignored his question, "I don't exactly have a rule against dating metas" "Ok?" Tim had no idea what his dad was trying to lead up to, but he put on his best listening face. "And I mean any meta", Bruce emphasized, searching his son's face for comprehension in vain, "any meta, at all. Regardless of gender" Or, the Batfamily will make sure Tim gets his guy, even if it entails a lot of beating around the bush, dropping hints so veiled that they can be misconstrued surprisingly easily, and basically giving the bird and his clone boy a headache in the process

~~~

Hey, Sunshine

"Kiss me, Kon", he demanded. He could already hear the smile in Kon's voice when he spoke. "Whatever you want, Sunshine" Or, Kon loves giving his boyfriend nicknames and Tim wants to know the reason behind this particular term of endearment.

~~~

I'll get back to you as soon as possible

Hey, this is Superboy. I’m probably busy kicking ass and saving babes but if it’s urgent just give me a shout and I’ll… Rox, can you shut your big mouth for one second or. The effect Conner’s voice has on Tim is instant. His gasping breaths become slower and easier to control. His whole body relaxes. Or: Tim calls Conner a lot while he’s dead. He calls a few times after he comes back too.

~~~

Dinner Rush

Tim decides it's finally time to tell his family that he and Conner are dating. Madness ensues.

~~~

Blind

As much as Kon had begged Clark not to send him to school, to while about his day doing equations and learning about dead people, when he could be doing something useful (like punching bad guys), Kon had actually come to like school. Well, he didn't so much care for the classes, but it was nice to make friends who were just normal people. It was interesting to hang around people who had no idea that the unassuming Conner Kent was actually the famed hero Superboy. Kon got to take a bit of a break from being a hero and pretend to be normal for a while, which could be fun under the right circumstances.

His friends were pretty neat, as well.

~~~

Just My Luck It's You

One night as Kon was dosing off to sleep it suddenly feels like he's been suckered punch and left breathless. As he gasps for air he knows something big has just happened to Tim, his very human soulmate, and knows he needs to go and find him no matter what.

~~~

Friends Are The Family We Choose

It’s really nice to know that both of their families watch out for one another no matter who it is. Clark would do anything for any member of Bruce’s family and even know he won’t admit it, Bruce would do the exact same for his.

Or, Kon nearly runs himself down to the ground with worry after Tim gets hospitalised and the Batfam are there to make sure he actually takes care of himself.

~~~

fill in the blanks

“You?” Tim blurts. Holy shit. “You’re Kon?”

A nod. “Are you in any pain?” he asks again.

Kon’s skin is sun-kissed, cheekbones dusted with a fine smattering of freckles; he is, without exaggeration, the prettiest person Tim has ever seen. “No, I’m—great,” he says, fidgeting. “Do you, uh, come here often?”

Kon raises a brow. “To the medbay?” he intones. “Definitely more often than I’d prefer.”

~~~

Say Amen, there he goes again

Tim and Kon get together. That prompts their respective families to tell them how much they love and support them.

Which is quite frankly a terrible development, if you ask Tim.

[ragingbookdragon]

When Will My Weight Be Too Much For You?

Barry Allen x Wondersis One-Shot

Word Count: 1.6 Warnings: Explicit Language, Slight Angst

Author's Note: Based off this ask right here! Enjoy! -Thorne

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

Diana said this is the way to leave my grievance where you can hear it instead of straight from my mouth. I must deliver it this way because if I were to see you at this very moment, I would say things that would be improper of a princess and a partner in our relationship. Bartholomew, I do not say this lightly, but your unattendance to the unveiling of the museum exhibit has wounded my heart. You promised you would make it in time to see me reveal it to the world. I know you are busy, believe me I know, but I had asked you multiple times to check your schedule to clear it. Please wait for me to contact you again, it should be within the next few days. I would like to exert this potent emotion from mind and body before we meet once more. And though this event has occurred, please understand that my love for you has not changed. I still love you very much, Bartholomew Allen and I always shall. Farewell. End of message. To repeat, please press the pound key.

Barry banged his head on the desk as the message ended for the eighth time that night. He felt like such a fool. Such a bumbling, moronic fool. (Y/N)’d called him the day before and reminded him and he still forgot about the museum exhibit being unveiled today. He’d been so caught up in the labs that day that by the time he’d actually gotten a break, it was past three—four hours past the event.

So much for having super-speed. He’d been late. Again. And this time, he’d upset (Y/N) so much that she didn’t even want to see him for a few days. And Barry wasn’t sure what he was more upset about—missing the event and hurting her or hearing the devastation in her voice from the message. Whichever it was, it hurt Barry to the core. The type of hurt that made even his chest feel sore and his eyes sting. And all Barry could do was sit and wait, planning out how to make it up to her, and hope that she still wanted to be with him after.

***

(Y/N) hefted the javelin by her head, cocking it back as far as she could before she threw it with all her might, taking out an entire tree in the backyard of Wayne Manor. It’d been four days since the museum event, four days since Barry hadn’t showed, and four days since she’d called in sick, instead of being at home, being at Wayne Manor. Oddly enough, it was the one place she could work out her emotion—there seemed to be no end to criminals and Bruce’s family didn’t seem too particularly bothered by an Amazon being present or watching her break the Joker’s legs—they enjoyed that.

With a heavy sigh, she collapsed into the grass, gazing up at the sky as she let her limbs sprawl out. She wasn’t angry or upset with Barry anymore. Well, there was a little annoyance, but the majority had been worked out. All that was left was the feeling in her chest that made her sigh all the time—exasperation. Barry was the greatest man alive, probably better than Clark Kent, but Gods if he wasn’t the latest man alive too. He was always late

Another puff of air escaped her, and she closed her eyes as the grass crunched near her. “Have you come to gloat?”

Someone chuckled. “You’ve been out here since four AM, (Y/N). Aren’t you tired?”

“Not particularly, Bruce.” She returned, cracking one eye open to see him dressed in his suit; he’d probably just gotten back from work. “Are you going on patrol soon?”

Bruce glanced at his watch. “It’s a quarter to six. Sun’s going down. I’m going to get ready.”

(Y/N) nodded, starting to rise. “Then I shall get ready too.”

“Actually, (Y/N), I think you should go back to Central City.”

She paused, looking down at him—though their height wasn’t much different, a few inches give or take—and asked, “Have I overstayed my welcome? I apologize if I have.”

He shook his head. “Never.” Reaching out, he placed a hand on her shoulder. “But I think you should go home and talk to Barry.”

An eyebrow arched on her head, though her heart was fluttering at the mention of Central City being home. “Why?” she was genuinely curious, or perhaps suspicious of his answer. It seemed like he wanted her to talk to Barry more than he wanted her to leave.

“Because Barry Allen is moping so much during League meetings that it makes me look cheerful,” Bruce scowled. “I’m sick of seeing the poor man so distraught over his mistake.”

(Y/N) frowned. “My intentions were not to cause such distress, I just—”

“You left him a voicemail that practically tore his heart out.”

“I just—” she stopped, gaping at him. “How did you know?”

Bruce blinked. “That’s not important. What is important is that you go home to your boyfriend and tell him you love him and that you’re not angry anymore.” He shifted his hands, grabbing her face gently but firmly. “For the love of God, (Y/N), please, forgive the poor bastard.”

(Y/N), with a pinched face, looked down on the man and grunted, “If you wish to keep your hands, I suggest you remove them. Now.”

“Just go home. Please,” Bruce griped, pulling away from her. “I’m so sick of looking at Barry moping like a lovesick drunkard.”

She waved in defeat. “I shall back my bag.”

Suddenly, her duffel bag was in her face. “Already packed,” he said. “Go home.”

“I am feeling the love,” (Y/N) laughed, tugging the tight strap over her body, and rose into the sky. “Until we see one another again, my dear friend.”

Bruce waved as flew off. “See you around, Vanguard.”

***

By the time she’d returned to Central City, it was well into the night, quite possibly the early hours of the morning. The city was asleep, few cars were on the road and even fewer skyscrapers were lit up with company. (Y/N) slipped into the apartment through the bedroom window, too lazy to walk up the six flights of stairs and through the front door like she knew she should, but no one was watching, so who cared?

Apparently, Barry did, because the moment her second foot touched the floor, she was being yanked to the ground, faster than she could realize what was happening. She thrashed beneath the weight pinning her to the floor, one hand wrapping around Barry’s wrist, the other his throat as she cocked one of her legs up underneath his pelvis and to her chest, shoving at him.

Tipping their weight, he went down, and she flipped atop him, then shifted her hand to grab his other wrist, holding them both beside his head.

“Peace Barry!” she comforted firmly. “It is me, (Y/N).”

Barry stopped squirming, blinking in the darkness. “(Y/N)?”

“Yes,” she answered, letting him go so she could reach up and flick the night-side lamp on. The room was illuminated with soft yellow glow, and she glanced down at him with an easy smile. “I cannot imagine how you heard me. I was dead silent coming inside.”

He blinked. “I was awake and rolled over. All I saw was someone in the bedroom.” Barry reached up, cupping her cheek. “You’re home.”

(Y/N) leaned down, brushing her nose against his. “I am home.” Smiling sadly, she added, “And sorry I left like I did…and for making you hurt. I hope you can forgive me, Barry. I should have acted maturely and not run from my problem like a child.”

“No-no-no-no,” he worried, sitting up, taking her with him. “You don’t have anything to apologize for.”

“But I—”

Barry shook his head, brushing his thumb across her cheekbone. “I broke my promise to you, (Y/N). You reacting how you did was understandable.”

“Perhaps to a human,” she argued. “But not for a princess. And especially one of Themyscira.” (Y/N) cupped his face in her hands and pressed her forehead to hers. “It was just a museum exhibit, Barry. You are more important to me than pieces of history.”

His blue eyes were bright even in the dull light and his smile was as wide as a mile. “I love you, (Y/N).”

She matched his smile. “I love you more, Barry Allen.”

“Well, I love you most,” he countered, and she giggled, shaking her head.

“Impossible,” she bantered. “My love for you knows no bounds.”

“Oh yeah?” he bet, wrapping one arm around her waist, whilst the other fumbled for the bedside, rising to his feet. “Hmm, my love is eternal.” He turned, (Y/N) sinking into the mattress as he climbed onto the bed, looking at her.

An evil smirk crossed her lips and Barry’s body flushed with heat as his cheeks darkened, and before he could even blink, he was being flipped, staring up as she gazed down at him. “H-honey,” he stuttered as her fingers deftly undid the buttons of his pajama shirt, spreading it open to reveal his toned chest. He really flushed when she bent down and pressed a kiss to the center of his chest, ebbing upwards to his throat, only leaving a trail of crimson love bites in her wake.

“Your love is eternal, hmm?” she cooed against his skin, heatedly kissing along his jaw to whisper in his ear. “Prove it to me.”

[fleur-de-violette]

And I’ll look into your eyes to find out if I’m real

A3O Summary: Bruce wants a lot of things. A bath. Seeing his family. Not having been missing for a whole year.

He wants Dick to wake up and realize he’s not a hallucination.

Whumptober 2020 day 6 – Stop, please. Note: Have you seen that the whumptober 2021 prompts are out? They’re super cool and I didn’t finish the 2020 so it’s safe to say I won’t do them. Still, I’m excited for it.

Back to the fic, warning for hallucination, lots of crying and pretty much general angst. Enjoy!

-

Bruce wants a bath.

He wants a lot of things. One of them is a bath. He never considered himself too dependent on the luxuries that came with his civilian identity, but right now, he really wants to be in clean, warm water with a nice scent, maybe a few candles, and some relaxing music.

It isn’t as much about the bath itself, because he had the time to clean himself, warm up and relax his aching muscles in the shower, it’s the idea of it. He wants to be in a moment where he could allow himself to lose time without feeling guilty about the next crisis. These moments are too rare, if not nonexistent, in his life. And now isn’t one of these moments.

Bruce wants a lot of things.

He wants Alfred not to look so tired. He wants to see Tim smile, really smile. He wants to take the next flight to Hong Kong just so he can hug Cassandra. He wants to solve a case with Steph, watch that smart spark in her eyes and find out how much she grew up. He wants to go to Crime Alley and check on Jason. He wants to shake Gordon’s hand and to kiss Barbara’s hair. He wants to feel Selina’s body against his. He wants to understand Damian. He wants to see Dick’s eyes.

He hasn’t seen Dick’s eyes since he came back from time. Batman’s white lenses had left his son’s face sometime between the moment he passed out next to Damian and the moment a neurosurgeon removed a bullet from the inside of his skull. Dick had yet to wake up.

And Bruce hadn’t seen Dick’s eyes in a year.

It’s something that hasn’t happened since that fateful night at Haly’s Circus. Even when they weren’t talking, he always took the time to check on his ward. His son.

He never wanted things to go this way. He has all the money anyone could wish for and more, a position of power, both in one of the biggest companies on earth and in the most famous superhero team in the universe. He’d been trained by the best of the best.

And yet.

And yet he can’t stop his family from ripping to shreds.

The Joker is still loose. He’s got a dozen missed calls on his phone, mostly from Clark. He doesn’t care. Right now, he doesn’t care. He’s tired.

Dick must be tired too. Bruce tries to tell himself that this is the reason he hadn’t woken up yet. He’d been assured by several doctors that the surgery went well. Dick should wake up anytime now, and the confusion and pain will decrease within the next few weeks, leaving only a scar on the back of his head, until that, too, will be hidden behind the thick black hair Bruce hadn’t ruffled affectionately in ages.

Bruce’s hands hover over his son’s unconscious body, as if afraid of touching him. Of breaking him more than he already did. Not for the first time, he wonders what would have happened if he had ensured that the young boy from the circus found a good foster family and left him there. If he hadn’t, with all the vanity of a twenty-four-year-old millionaire, thought he was the only one who could take care of him.

He sighs. He lowers his head once again toward Dick’s face and sees two cloudy blue eyes looking back at him.

He blinks. Tries to control the avalanche of emotions falling upon him. “Hey,” he says, choking on his own voice.

He’s not really expecting an answer, so he’s surprised when Dick opens his dry lips and lets out a small, “Hey. Long time, no see.”

A tear Bruce knows Dick doesn’t even notice forms itself in his son’s eye. Bruce wipes it away gently. “Are you in any pain?” he asks.

“I’m okay,” Dick lies. Bruce doesn’t call him out on it.

“Do you remember what happened?”

Dick goes to shake his head but aborts the movement with a pained jerk. “No,” he says instead.

“Do you want me to tell you?”

Dick lets out a small laugh. “How would you know? You’re a figment of my imagination.”

Bruce suddenly feels very cold. He takes in both the knowledge that Dick doesn’t think he’s real and the implication that hallucinating him is something he’s familiar with.

His hand presses a little more on his son’s face. “I’m here,” he says. “I’m real.”

Dick closes his eyes and another tear escapes one of them. “Don’t. Please.”

“Talk to me. What can I do to convince you?” Bruce feels a pressure building behind his own eyes.

“Please, stop,” Dick repeats. “I can’t. I can’t believe you.”

Bruce takes a deep breath. “Okay, we’ll take all the time you need. You don’t have to believe me now, but you need to calm down.”

Dick is close to hyperventilating now, and Bruce wonders if he should just leave the room and let Alfred take care of him. But that seems too much like running away for his liking, and he’s been away long enough.

“I can’t believe you’re real,” Dick continues, not caring, or perhaps not registering what Bruce said. “I can’t, you’re not. I can’t hope, because what if I wake up and you’re gone? Again?”

Bruce feels his heart shattering into pieces, but he can’t let himself break down. “Breathe, Robin,” he says, immediately wincing when the name passes his lips.

Calling him by a title he hadn’t worn in years probably won’t help Dick’s grip with reality, but he can’t help it. Right now, he can only see a distressed child in front of him. A child who always responded well to this name.

And it seems that some things can’t be erased by time, because Dick gasps and takes a few more deep breaths, calming down. Bruce thinks the worst of it is over. He thinks maybe Dick will fall back asleep, and wake up again in a few hours, less confused this time.

He’s wrong.

Because not a minute later, Dick opens his eyes again, and says, “The real you would be much angrier than that.”

Bruce feels the mass in his throat, the one that appeared at the beginning of the conversation, start to grow again. “What? No, why would I be angry?”

“Let you down,” Dick answers in a way that makes Bruce wish he had never asked. “Disrespected your will. Let Gotham become a mess. Destroyed Batman’s name.”

“You didn’t,” Bruce murmurs. “You didn’t.” When Dick doesn’t seem to calm down, he adds, “You’re a better Batman than I’ll ever be.”

Because this is true. He doesn’t need Alfred of Gordon to tell him what he always knew. Dick is the essence of what Batman should be. He’s the Batman Gotham needs, even if she doesn’t deserve him. And for that reason, Dick shouldn’t have been Batman. He’s perfect, and he’s destroying himself.

Batman had never been a title to pass on, let alone to Dick. Sure, he trusted his son and first sidekick to take the mantle if he was unable to, but he never had wanted him to be Batman. No one but him was supposed to be Batman. Cassandra was the closest to the title, but she wasn’t ready, and he couldn’t let that burden fall on her.

Still, he hadn’t wanted it to fall on Dick, either.

“Why are you saying that?” Dick asks. Bruce can practically see the gears turning in his head. Good. He knows firsthand that Dick is a damn good detective. He will figure this out. “This is not something I believe or fear or want to hear. Why are you saying that?”

“I’m real,” Bruce repeats, and Dick lets out a sob.

“You’re not,” he protests, but Bruce can see his resolve weakening. “You’re not. Tim said, but you…”

He stops. Blinks. A few more tears fall out of his eyes, and Bruce knows his own aren’t dry either. “You’re real. You’re… please, be real.”

Bruce bites the inside of his cheek to keep himself from breaking down. “I’m real,” he chokes. “I promise.”

Dick’s eyes go wide. “What about Damian?” he asks. “Aren’t you angry?”

Bruce sighs. What about Damian? This is a whole different question. The kid is sleeping in his room right now, having finally listened to Alfred, leaving his Batman’s side. He had barely said a word to Bruce.

Bruce has been gone for a year, not by choice, sure, but gone nonetheless, and now he doesn’t know where he fits, between his son in blood and his son in everything else.

Batman and Robin, a bond that can’t be broken. A bond that still exists, he hopes, between himself and Dick.

“I will talk with him,” he says because his relationship with Damian, his complicated feelings about the mere existence of Damian and his anxiety about having to work with him as a Robin, aren’t Dick’s responsibility. They never should have been. “I’m not angry with you.”

Dick blinks again. “My head hurts,” he finally admits.

Bruce’s hand hovers over the morphine drip. “Do you want more painkillers?”

“If I sleep,” Dick asks, “Will you still be there when I wake up?”

Bruce bends down, leaves a kiss on his son’s forehead. “I promise.”

“I don’t believe you,” Dick says. “But thank you, for being here.”

Still, he closes his eyes and his body relaxes a little. Probably as much as it is possible while recovering from brain surgery.

Bruce stays there a long time, his hand still on Dick’s face. He’s broken a lot of promises. But he’s sure of one thing.

He will be here when Dick wakes up again.

He will still be real.

Ending Note: Hope you enjoyed the fic! Many thanks to @ohmytoddhewitt for beta reading!

[iphoenixrising]

The Demon You Know

Day 1 Urban Fantasy AU | Magical/Supernatural Creatures | Time Travel

So, something a little off the grid for my first day of DickTim Week 2021. Special thanks to my wonderful babe @vellaphoria for the beta and the incredible peeps on the Capes and Coffee discord (looking at you @themandylion, @strawberryjei and others). Also need to show my undying love for @chippon because babe, we are making it work.

**

When the sun creeps up over the sky in Gotham, then it’s time to GTFO. Capes in the daytime aren’t the usual for the city, and Red Robin has been playing it too late, staying out far past O’s warning to bring it in for the night. So, really, he’s only got himself to blame.

His penthouse perch has seen more use in the last few months since, welp, Gotham and the fact he likes to get away from the team mentality sometimes, like to return to his roots and run the rooftops like when he was still that Robin. His trips to the Manor had become more frequent since B was back in the cowl and things in the family seemed to be returning to some semblance of normal. 

Well, as normal as it could get, really.

But all that goodwill and positivity is literally ghost. Red’s hands are shaky and his inner calm is absolutely blown. He’s ducking into his perch to throw his suit off, grab his duffle bag full of sundries and fake idents, then he’s going to hit the airport as fast as he can get a flight the hell out of town, away from the terrifying sight.

(He should just call Bart or Kon or Cassie, tell them he needs an out faster than he can arrange it himself, he needs to get away from–)

He knows he fucked up when the slight sounds, small and metallic in nature, make it past his pulse thumping in his ears.

Like a horror flick, he slowly turns as the front door gives a groan and is pushed open by a very familiar palm.

Dick’s blue eyes fall on him like a ton of bricks, on Red Robin’s feet frozen to the floor, his suit only half on, and no way he can get far enough to throw himself out a window.

Fuck.

“So,” Dick keeps his voice soft, footsteps easy as he steps inside Tim’s penthouse and closes the door behind him, “you finally found me out.”

Keeping his mouth shut in times like this has really saved his ass before, so Red doesn’t say a word, keeps every muscle in his body ready to spring for the right second –

Watching the would-be robber struggle in Dick’s grip, watching the light show brighten overwhelmingly, seeing what had to be-had to be feeding.

“I figured it would be you if anyone, actually, so I’m not really surprised, just… disappointed.” Dick continues softly, only in jeans and a t-shirt since Nightwing was oddly missing from the patrol roster last night.

And Red is apparently the only one that knows why.

“But that doesn’t mean I can just let you go, Timmy,” Dick isn’t stopping, his whole body lax while Red is wound tight, backing away from the man he thought he knew. “I really wish you hadn’t found out like this. I...I had other plans.” 

Whirlybirds and pellets aren’t going to help him here. Hand-to-hand and martial arts, aerial acrobatics, none of it is going to make a difference. 

His throat goes dry when Dick’s eyes get more and more blue, when his former mentor doesn’t stop advancing, and Red Robin is running out of room to back away.

“I tried to save you, Timmy. I tried so hard to get you away, out of Gotham, even if you went because you thought you had to find Bruce, I’m the one that gave you the compulsion to leave.” The low laugh is edged with something desperate, “why the hell couldn’t you stay away?”

“This is my city, just as much as Batman’s. You taking my fucking cape wasn’t enough,” Red Robin bites out, back thumping against the kitchen counter, realizing Dick had backed him into the corner. “How did you keep it from him? Constantine, Zatanna, all the magic users he has on speed dial and he never figured you out? No one in the JLA or Titans did?”

That makes Dick pause.

“He never had to. He knew what my parents were before they ever died, Timmy. Haley’s Circus came to Gotham regularly. Bruce always knew.”

The information blast hits him painfully, that Bruce didn’t bother to tell him and look at where they are now.

“And he didn’t try to help you?” Red, Tim, gapes at the still silhouette that used to be someone he thought he knew like he knew himself. Someone that’s always had this secret. “He didn’t try to –”

“Cure me?” Dick’s mouth lifts in a semblance of a smile Tim knows. “There is no cure for this, Timmy. It’s what I am. What my parents both were, the curse of the Romain Bababiljos. It’s unfortunate for me both of them were cursed, that just makes the...the hunger two-fold.”

And it’s just a few more steps, a raised hand that makes Tim flinch back, but only a fingertip taps the edge of the domino, makes the whiteouts raise.

Automatically, with everything he’s learned, studied, experienced about supernatural creatures, he ducks his head so he isn’t looking directly into those eyes. That doesn’t stop Dick from bracketing Tim in, both hands on the counter, their bodies a breath apart.

Dick laughs softly, close enough for Tim to feel the breath on his face. “The Titans...I never had to tell them. By then, I could control myself, at least mostly. The JLA? I’m one of the Batman’s proteges. I’ve been fighting crime since I was eight. They believe in me. There was never a reason for any of them to look too deeply past the surface.”

“Wh-what do you mean mostly?” Tim’s heart slams in his chest, “how many people have you killed, Dick?”

“Do you have any idea how awful the hunger is?” And the lower Dick’s voice goes, the harder Tim’s heart starts to pound. “Surviving on hugs and family affection is tantamount to starvation for someone like me. It’s so easy to kill someone during sex because the hunger is so much I can’t control it sometimes. Anyone I’m with is in danger.  That’s why I couldn’t stay with Babs, she’s too human. The one time I came close–” 

Dick breathes again and all Tim looks at is the span of throat, thinking of the soft, vulnerable parts, anything he can use to get the fuck away.

“–but I didn’t. I have...willpower sometimes. I drained her so close, though. She was-was so fragile, Timmy, and I was so hungry. I’d been starving for so damn long. She was hospitalized for longer than she’d been when the Joker shot her, and I said never again. But Wally and Kory were...different. I could go further with him without killing them, I could get more full than I’d been in a long time. It was still dangerous for them, but I was so far gone by the time...”

“They’re both still alive. Babs is still alive. Does she–?”

“Remember? Of course not. None of them do. I made sure of that, Tim, so none of them would be afraid of me.”  And the air changes when Dick gets closer, his eyes get brighter, and Tim almost chokes with the almost touch to his body under his suit. “But, you are going to be different, aren’t you? I’m not going to be able to convince your mind that what you saw was a dream.”

“So what? You’re going to make me “disappear”? You’ll give Bruce some sob story about how I got tired of the vigilante life and left for college or some shit? Going to bury me where no one will ever find me?” He isn’t looking at Dick’s face, can’t see his own end coming, can’t believe he’d put all his faith and belief in this man only to have it all come to this.

Tim laughs wetly, blinking rapidly, and everything suddenly comes together. “He won’t ever come looking for me anyway. You made sure of that when you made Damian your Robin. Nice plan, Dick. No one is going to give a shit if I’m never seen again anyway.”

And it’s stupid not to at least try, not to duck and kick out, trip up whatever Dick really is, to break a window and fucking run, try to get Bruce, Clark, Kon and Bart and Cassie, to get anyone to listen to him about what Dick really is, to try to save himself.

(If you’d never figured out Dick was Robin, if you never put yourself in front of him, you’d be safe now. Miserable but safe.)

Even if it’s his own brain pan spitting this out, he knows it’s bullshit. 

If he’d never approached Dick Grayson with proof Batman was losing his mind, Tim Drake wouldn’t have reached twenty-one. The way his life was going, he would have probably hung himself long before getting to this stage in his life. If he’d never had Bruce or Alfred or Dick or Steph, if he’d never had Robin, never had Young Justice or The Titans, if he’d never had the Clench, never felt the rumble under his feet as Gotham had fallen, if he’d never had the agony of losing everyone in his life, if he’d never had the drive to prove his adopted father was alive…

The civilian Tim Drake wouldn’t have had the strength to make it through life alive.

So if this is the way he goes out, if Dick is the one that ends it for him–

There’re worse ways to go.

He’s not going to be the Joker’s next victim or Ra’s al Ghul’s heir with a mix of Lazarus Pit crazy. The HIVE, the Light, the mass of aliens he’s fought, any number of Rogue Gallery thugs, none of them will be the ones to take him out.

But this?

His career as Robin started out with Dick Grayson, so maybe...maybe it’s fitting this is the way it all ends. 

He sucks in a breath and finally tilts his head up, looks up into those electric blue eyes, and lets his breath out so so slow.

Because Dick is looking at him with watery eyes, with a grimace, with something Tim can actually recognize.

But those eyes light up in his penthouse perch, take on a supernatural glow, Dick snatching his wrists in bigger hands, pulling Tim closer, the heat getting through layers of Kevlar and Nomex. And just like that, he can’t pull away, can’t pull back.

There’s no way to defend himself when Dick pulls him in, when he expects to get his throat ripped out, his neck snapped, something important crushed, for the darkness to take over and his heart to slow down to a sad, weak pitter patter.

He can’t defend himself when Dick kisses him, opens his mouth, and stuns him into going completely slack.

“I told you,” Dick growls softly when he pulls back, bends enough to get Tim laid out over his shoulder, “I had other plans.”

But Tim can’t reply, can’t do anything other than lay across Dick’s back as the Romani love deamon strides down the hallway and kicks open the bedroom door.

**

And if Tim Drake survives until morning, shocking the hell out of the both of them, staring up at Dick’s surprised face and glowing blue eyes, if the soft touch to his jaw contrasts sharply with the bruises and red marks blossoming all over his body from an intense night with his supernatural mentor and best friend, if Dick doesn’t whisper, “finally, finally, my mate,” before kissing him. 

If the power Dick drains from him doesn’t kill him, doesn’t do more than give him the most amazing span of unending multiple orgasms to ever happen, if Dick isn’t fully satisfied for the first time in his life. If Dick doesn’t call them both off patrol for the next three nights, carts Tim back to his apartment, refuses him clothes and computers and tech, tells the Titans they’re taking a break from crime fighting while Tim is tied and gagged in his bed, sated enough to listen hazily with half-mast eyes. 

If Dick doesn’t hand feed him while he’s getting feeling back in his legs (finally) and give him the full run-down about his parents. If the strange mark on his abdomen doesn’t get warm whenever Dick’s hand is on it, fingers tracing the edges, making those blue, blue eyes dilate in possessiveness. If Tim doesn’t eventually escape with his sanity intact and a little terrified how much his body craves only to have Dick chase after him with single-minded purposes to convince him they’re meant to be.

Then only the man with cameras all over Gotham, waiting and watching with bated breath and fear for his Robins, unmitigated relief when his theory proves true, would be able to give all the details.

[iwhumpyou]

Ok so we know Jason has met superman and idolises Wonder Woman when he was robin. So maybe he sees them as an aunt and uncle along with a couple of the other leaguers. But then he comes back and he’s murdered several people and he’s the red hood but they don’t know he’s alive. So maybe they try to stop him themselves when he’s gone outside of Gotham for a case? And find out he’s alive and they haven’t been told? Idk I’m just rambling.

Okay, I may make this a longer fic at some point, but the idea of Hood being confronted by Superman was too good to pass up.

~#~#~#~#~#~

Jason really wished that Roy and Kori had stayed.  He’d never faced the Justice League without them as a shield - Roy and Oliver fought, but Green Arrow would never let Roy be locked up, and the League still had fond memories of the first Teen Titans and Starfire.

Hood, though, Hood they hated.

Jason wasn’t sure if they were just disgusted by how far he’d fallen, or if it was their protectiveness of Batman, but he could feel the hate directed at him as a sonic boom heralded the advance party.

Unfortunately, the Outlaws had definitely pissed off the JL in their latest couple of missions, and Jason didn’t want Roy and Kori to stay just for his sake.  He didn’t want to stay either, but his hands were the only thing keeping Batman’s blood inside his body, where it belonged, so unfortunately he couldn’t get up and leave.

“Red Hood,” Superman said, voice cold, “Get away from him.”

Also unfortunately, Jason had run into Batman on a case outside Gotham, outside the Bats’ jurisdiction, so Batman’s call for help had summoned his superhero buddies instead of Nightwing or the Replacement.

“Not if you want him to live,” Jason replied, glad that the helmet covered his facial expressions.

The only warning he got was the tensing of Superman’s eyes - before Jason could blink, he was flat on his back, staring up into icy blue eyes.  He felt like he’d been hit by a train.

Surprise gave way to horror - “Wait,” Jason said, struggling to get up, but Superman’s hands were as unyielding as shackles, “He’s bleeding -”

“He is being taken care of,” Wonder Woman’s boots stepped closer, “Red Hood.  You and your Outlaws have been leading us on a merry chase.”

Well, given that they tried to arrest them every time they showed up, of course the Outlaws kept running away.

Jason opened his mouth to make a quippy retort, already resigned to his fate - he didn’t have any Kryptonite, and maybe Roy and Kori would sneak into the Watchtower to break him out later - but was halted by a low, gravelly voice.

“Jason?” Batman - Bruce called out weakly, “Jay?”

Goddamn the man for sounding like that.  For pushing Jason out of the way of the blast that had nearly shredded his side.  For refusing to be the cold-hearted bastard Jason wanted him to be.

Above him, Superman and Wonder Woman exchanged a look.  “Jason!” Bruce called out again, now sounding frantic.

“I’m here!” Jason called out, and hissed as Superman’s arms tightened, “Let up, will you, the boss man wants to see me.”

“Jason!”  Supes and Wonder Woman exchanged another look and suddenly, Jason was on his knees at Bruce’s side, arms wrenched painfully behind him.

All of the insta-travel was making his stomach churn.

“I’m here, B, calm down,” Jason snapped, and Bruce’s head weakly twisted towards him.  Green Lantern had some green construct pressed to the wound, and Flash had a blood transfusion line set up.

“Jay,” Bruce exhaled slowly, slumping back.  He sounded very out of it, Jason needed to ask the Replacement for the cowl footage.  “Robin, report.”

Jason felt his stomach twist painfully - in tune to the increased pressure on his arms, Jason had to arch back so his shoulders wouldn’t dislocate - but it wasn’t the first time Bruce had gotten confused and mixed up which of them had the R at present.

“I’m fine, you colossal idiot, you’re the one that decided to play martyr,” Jason snarled, but Bruce had taken the ‘I’m fine’ as permission to slip back into unconsciousness.

Jason narrowed his eyes - typical Bruce - and startled when he realized no one was pinning his arms anymore.

Green Lantern was gaping at him.  Flash had frozen still.  Wonder Woman looked stunned, which was not an expression he’d ever seen before on her face.

“What?” Jason asked, a little self-conscious.

“You’re not Robin,” Green Lantern pointed out.

Jason very nearly growled - Jason knew that, thank you very much, it was the cornerstone of half his issues - and the voice modulator put the appropriate amount of rage into his words, “Not since a mad clown blew me up, no.”

Now they all looked sick.  “Jason?” Wonder Woman asked, disbelieving.

“That’s my name, don’t wear it out.”  He briefly calculated the odds of making a run for it now that Bruce was stable and no one was holding him down, but his plans were arrested by Supes appearing in front of him.

“Take off your helmet,” Superman ordered.

“What?  Why?”

Superman didn’t bother asking a second time - Jason yelped as air suddenly slapped against his bare face - clearly X-ray vision was enough to figure out how to unclasp the thing without it turning into a bomb.

“You could’ve waited two seconds,” Jason grumbled, squinting up at Superman.

Superman was staring at him, his expression roiling, and Jason flinched back violently when - in the space of a blink - Supes was crouched in front of him, hand outstretched.

“Jason?” he asked softly, and Jason stayed perfectly still as he...brushed the white lock of hair out of his face.  “You’re alive.”

And suddenly Jason had an armful of crying alien as Clark wrapped him up into a tight hug.  “You’re alive,” he repeated brokenly, and Jason slowly patted his shoulder, extremely confused.  Diana had crouched behind him, eyes wet and full of wonder.

“Did - did B not tell you?” Jason asked hoarsely, a lump rising in his own throat as his eyes prickled.  Hal had a hand pressed to his mouth, eyes shining, and Barry was looking at him in painful, disbelieving hope.

“No,” Clark said, his voice cracking, “God, Jason, no - did you think we would - no.”  His hug squeezed tighter, “I missed you so much, kiddo.”

Jason returned the hug, whispering back, “I missed you too, Uncle Clark.”

[randomfandomimagine]

Love’s Worth Running To. Chapter 5: Hero Work

Pairing: Barry Allen x Stephanie Williams (OFC)

Fandom: Justice League / DCEU

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AO3

A/N: Another chapter! I think this one as very interesting stuff, and it’s finally starting to move on to my favorite part of the story, I can’t wait to post the few next chapters!

Also, and as always, remember to give this some love! Please reblog and leave feedback if you’re liking it, it would help me out a lot and it’d mean the world to me!! 🙏 Thank you so much to everyone that’s supporting this series 🥰💜

With the excuse that she needs to face it sooner or later, Stephanie starts trying out her powers. She promises herself that it means nothing, only a way to ensure they won’t become something dangerous because she can’t control them. It doesn’t mean she will recklessly go out trying to be Wonder Woman. But the improvised hero outfit still lays on the ground. She hasn’t put it away. Keeps glancing at it.

Meanwhile, as her eyes are fixed on the costume, a light crackle of electricity hovers over her palm. Stephanie sighs and focuses her attention on it, watching how the small force field slowly grows. The semi-transparent sphere, at first as small as marble, has reached the size of a football ball now.

Stephanie tells herself that big progress has been made, as at least she is now in control of it even if the force field isn’t big enough to really protect anyone. Its surface is also irregular and unstable. She grits her teeth, frowning in confusion, but the very best she can do is maintain the current state of the force field.

“Ah!” Stephanie suddenly yelps when her phone buzzes. The force field in her hand crackles, creating a mild disturbance in the air, before completely fading.

Promising to keep working on her newfound abilities after checking her phone, she picks the device up and looks at the screen. Her heart halts in anticipation as she reads the text. It’s from Ben.

While it isn’t the person she was expecting, it still warms her heart that Ben is reaching out and checking on her. For that reason, she proceeds to read the message and a small smile finds its way to her lips when she does.

Good morning, Stephanie! How are you feeling? I hope you’re well and recovered. There is no rush to return to work, but I must insist that you rest and properly look after yourself. I’m your boss, so you have to do as I say.

Best regards, Ben.

Stephanie chuckles, endeared by his thoughtful message and amused by the fact that he signed it like he would a written letter... despite the fact that the phone already showcases the sender. Grinning, she starts typing to reply to him.

You may be the man in charge for the project, but shall I remind you that you’re not my boss?

Best regards, Stephanie.

However, and despite the lighthearted interaction, a void settles in her chest.

For a moment, Stephanie had hoped it was Barry contacting her, only to remember that she had been ignoring his many calls and messages. He has probably given up on talking to her, figuring she will do so when she feels comfortable with it. And she misses him. For that reason, she dials his number while Ben types back.

Barry takes a few rings to answer, but when he does his warm and familiar voice is filled with excitement. It makes Stephanie smile as soon as she hears it.

“Steph?!” He answers. “Oh my gosh, hi! How are you feeling?”

“Hi, Barry” The girl can’t stop smiling now, while at the same time wondering how she had survived so many days without him. “I’m feeling better, thank you”

“That’s great, I’m so glad to hear it!” He sighed from the other end, as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. “Um… did you need anything? Or did you just call to chat?”

“Well…” Stephanie awkwardly chuckles, feeling embarrassed for isolating herself. But now that she has her powers mostly under control after that long week, she feels like she can talk to him again. “Actually, I wanted to apologize… I know I’ve been very distant, but…”

“Hey, no” He gently interrupts her. “Steph, you don’t have to apologize, don’t say a word. I understand that you needed some time, anyone would after what you went through!”

Stephanie pauses for a moment while the nerves suddenly stir in her stomach. In the end, noticing his silence as well, she pipes up once more.

“I’m sorry for worrying you, Barry”

“I’m always gonna worry about you”

She smiles to herself, knowing that he means that in the best way possible. The nerves disappear, replaced with a wave of warmth that fills her. Suddenly, all those negative emotions she has been experiencing for days are gone. All thanks to his magic.

“Listen, I’m in a hurry. I’m so sorry, I really can’t talk more” Barry mumbles. “But, uh... how ‘bout we meet this evening? I’ll take it easy on you, I promise, I just want to hang out with you for a bit”

“Sure” Stephanie chuckles. “I’d love that”

“Cool!” She hears him happily chuckle as well. “Pick you up at 7?”

“Yeah, see you later” And Stephanie hangs up, unable to erase the smile from her face.

_

When Barry arrives to the place of reunion, he heaves a big sigh. The sky suddenly looks bluer, the birds are singing louder and the sun shines brighter. Everything is okay.

“There you are” Clark pats his shoulder, warning him of the team’s presence. They had been waiting for him. “How can a speedster like you be late?”

“Right, sorry about that” Barry grins instead of taking his words as a scolding.

“You look happy…” Diana tells Barry, kindly nudging him a little.

“Yeah, well” The boy suddenly feels slightly flustered by everyone’s gazes on him. “I talked to Steph”

“Your friend?” Bruce pipes up, the hint of a smile peeking in the corner of his lips. “We told you she just needed some time”

“She doing okay?” Arthur asked, frowning slightly in concern.

“Yeah, she’s fine… she’s fine” Barry sighs like that again, feeling lighter. “Phew, it was such a relief”

“Sorry to burst your bubble, Barry” Victor gravely tells him. “But we have work to do”

“You’re right, I know” The boy nods to himself. “I’m ready, let’s go”

The silence settles for a moment. Overlooking the city from their high spot at the top of the skyscraper, the six pensively observe the atmosphere beneath their feet. There is the usual busy sound of traffic, of the crowd’s murmuring and the occasional ambulance or police cars sirens in the distance. Other than that, there are no signs of an imminent threat.

“What are we doing here again?” Arthur pipes up. “Everything seems calm”

“Too calm” Bruce grimly replies, glancing at the rest. “I know something’s wrong”

“I can feel it too” Victor adds. “The electric devices feel erratic, like a virus is slowly poisoning the city”

“What we can do about it?” Diana stares at the cyborg, whose eyes are fixed on the city underneath.

“Can you do something to stop that virus?” Barry suggests to him. “Get into their systems or something?”

“I can’t” Victor gravely says, locking eyes with the speedster. “That’s how I know something’s wrong”

“I can feel it too” Clark admits. There are no traces of his usual smile. “Maybe it’s just an intuition, but-”

Before he can even finish his sentence, a loud ruckus startles them all. Something has changed right under their field of vision. An automated train, moving on its own and filled with thousands of innocent passengers, is violently wavering and making the people inside it scream and panic. It moves at a vertiginous speed. More strange noises ensure that the train isn’t the only electronic device malfunctioning there.

“You wouldn’t be doing that, by any chance?” Barry asks Victor, who slowly shakes his head.

As on cue, everyone moves at his denial. The six seem synchronized as they throw themselves down the rooftop. Diana uses her lasso to soar through the air, Bruce glides with his cape and Barry speeds leaving behind a faint blue tail. Clark flies, followed by Victor with his propellers, and Arthur throws his trident and rides it like a surf board.

In the blink of an eye, the six have landed on top of the train. More panicked screams fill the interior with the loud thud of their landing. They struggle to maintain balance in the speeding train. Moving quickly, Clark tears the metallic top of the train open and so everyone drops to the inside.

“Please stay calm” He kindly says to the terrorized passengers.

“We’re here to help” Bruce assures them with his deep voice.

“We’re saved!” A blond woman exclaims. “It’s Superman!”

“And Wonder Woman!”

“And The Batman!”

Although a warm welcome, the Justice League focuses on the mission ahead: saving those people. They exchange quick glances between them and get to work. There is no time to lose.

“Barry” Bruce lowly tells him. “Get rid of all the electronic devices as soon as possible”

“Before they overheat and explode” Victor urges him, his red eye seeming to recognize the extent of the danger they present. “They’re malfunctioning just like the train”

“Copy that!” And with that, the speedster is gone in the blink of an eye. With shocked gasps, the people find that their phones, tablets and any other electronic devices are taken from them. Some explode as soon as they’re thrown out the window, causing an even further outrage.

“I’ll try to stop the train” Victor closes his eyes, focusing his mind on the electric system.

“I’ll do that too” Clark nods, helping the cyborg by flying to the front of the vehicle. As soon as he disappears, the train produces a strident creaking as it drags along the rails. Carefully. Very slowly, it starts losing speed. He can’t risk harming the people inside with a violent halt.

“We’ll get the people safely off” Diana taps Bruce, who doesn’t lose one second to go with her.

“And I’ll help you out” Arthur throws his trident to the doors, breaking through them to allow them an exit.

Soon after, Barry has returned and instantly goes with Diana, Bruce and Arthur to help them move the passengers out of the speeding train. Clark seems to continue his part of the rescue, because it loses speed by the second. Slow and safely.

While Arthur breaks open all the doors he can to create more exits, the rest gets ahold of as many people as possible. The train hasn’t quite stopped yet. Bruce carries three grown men, using his grappling hook to swing to safety. Diana has picked up a group of four children while Barry puts their parents to safety. Perhaps they can’t quite understand and solve what is happening in the city yet, but in the meantime they can always protect the people.

_

Seven o’clock can’t come soon enough. Time passes slowly, and Stephanie’s eyes keep landing on the discarded outfit on the ground. She bites her lip. Knowing she is meeting Barry later seems to fill her with courage. Hope. Maybe she can be like their heroes, like Wonder Woman and Superman. At the very least, she can try.

“Maybe I’ll just try it on…” She mumbles, trying to get rid of her impatient energy, and as though they outfit would have changed sizes during those few days she hasn’t touched it.

Telling herself that it’s only a way to stay distracted and busy while she waits for Barry to arrive, although that isn’t for two more hours, Stephanie gets changed. The tight leggings slip on easily, like a second skin, like they’re the right thing to wear. After she puts on the tank top as well, she stands before the mirror once more. The same sense of excitement and wonder settle in her stomach, taking the form of butterflies that take flight inside it.

The look is almost complete. Just when she is applying the eye shadow like the other day, a sound interrupts her. Several police cars pass by her apartment at top speed, illuminating the streets with their blue light. A test. A call to adventure. Will she answer?

“I can do it” She whispers to herself. “I want to help, I can do it”

Anxious as the police cars wail in the distance, Stephanie nods in resolution. After such a long time of inactivity, her muscles complain at the sudden energy bursts. Ignoring the light aching of her body, Stephanie runs. She leaves her apartment, leaves behind her building and runs in the direction the police cars took. After days if inactivity, she feels alive again. Her lungs urgently fill with air, her heart begins beating so fast that it throbs in her ears.

Stephanie doesn’t stop running, chasing the call to heroism and smiling widely.

_

She gasps for air as she watches the scene before her in confusion. The streets are total chaos. Even the few policemen that have stayed seem to have lost their minds. All the people, from ordinary bystanders, to service workers that have left their establishments, are running aimlessly and screaming in a panic.

“HEEEELP!!! He will kill us all!!” A shrieking voice gathers her attention upwards. A man is teetering at the very edge of a ledge, at the top of a building. He seems about to jump. Stephanie can’t get there in time to save him. Where is the Justice League when you need it?!

Trying to make herself audible among the shouting of the panicked people around her, she focuses on the man whose life is in immediate danger.

“Stay where you are!” She shouts at him, but he only dedicates her an absent glance.

Stephanie frantically looks around, searching for something that can help her. Nothing of use is in sight. What can she do? An idea suddenly pops up in her brain. Wiggling her fingers, she tries to create a force field around herself. If it’s stable enough, maybe it can lift her off the ground and transport her to him.

But it’s all for naught. It’s too late. Her heart skips a beat.

The man has walked off the ledge.

“NO!” Stephanie screams, so violently that she hurts her throat.

On an instinct, she reaches out in his direction despite the big distance that separates them. Her head fills with uneasy thoughts, all of which are focused on helping him. Saving him! Her first attempt can’t end like that, she needs to do something!

Just as the man is about to step into the air and commence a free fall of several stories high, a bubble creates around him. The man gasps, suspended in the air by a wavering force field.

Realizing it is her doing, Stephanie clenches her jaw and focuses all her might on it. Although it quakes with her effort, the bubble carefully glides downwards until it touches the pavement. As soon as it does, the man looks around in a daze and begins to walk away.

Stephanie finds that such small deed was too great for her. All her energies abandon her and she suddenly falls to the ground. She sits there helplessly. Her heart has recovered that unforgiving pace and she breathes heavily again, even worse than after her dash.

In a daze, feeling how her brain slowly fills with fog, Stephanie watches the scene. Two men are fighting close to her, shouting as they’re convinced the other is a threat. A woman and her baby run aimlessly, wailing as each make more noise than the previous. All around her reigns absolute chaos. Panic. Terror. The reason? She doesn’t know. She doesn’t understand.

A man runs for his life, anxiously looking over his shoulder as though something or someone is chasing him. Stephanie can’t see anything behind the man. Just as he passes her by, she weakly holds on to the leg of his pants.

“Sir, sir!!” She calls out, trying to get through to him. Fighting his panic, he nervously turns to her. “What is happening?!”

“T-The scarecrow!” The man gulps. “We’re all going to die!”

And with that her breaks free from her grasp with one simple jerking motion and continues on his escape from an invisible foe.

Stephanie frowns under her eye mask. There are no signs of any scarecrow, and even if it was… what would a scarecrow be doing in a city? Why would an inanimate object be a threat? These people seem to be frightened of an imaginary foe. The only thing different aside from the panicked people is a strange ambiance. Although slightly similar to the way her force fields change the air, this once it feels heavy. There is a mild odor of something burning, like popcorn that has been on the microwave for too long.

But… there is no fire. Stephanie suddenly gets an urge to leave. She makes to stand up, but she remains too weak to move. Anguish overcomes her. Something is happening in that place, something that she cannot comprehend but that is starting to take over her too.

She doesn’t know what, but something is wrong. Something is about to happen. Something bad. Something terrible. She can’t stop thinking about it. A feeling of dread overpowers any other rational thoughts. Now Stephanie understands how all those people feel. Panicked She does too.

Her eyes frantically travel all around her, expecting hidden enemies in every corner. Her powers are useless, even if she could use them. She can’t protect herself, or anyone else.

Static-like void fills her brain, causing her to push her hands against her ears when it feels like her head is about to explode. Her temples throb. Her heart thumps. Her breathing quickens.

Just as she feels herself about to completely lose control, a figure appears in front of her as though it has fallen from the heavens. Stephanie yelps and whimpers, shielding her face with her hands and leaning backwards to get away.

“Hey” A deep dark voice approaches her. “You okay?”

Stephanie dares to peek through her fingers, only becoming more frightened when she actually sees the person… the… creature? It looks like a man, but her panicked mind can only see an enormous bat standing on two legs with its wings wide open.

“Ah!” She screams, so the figure folds the wings and cautiously approaches her. She still doesn’t trust him. “Please don’t hurt me!”

He can hurt her. He will. Anyone can. Anyone will.

“I’m not going to hurt you” He slowly crouches down to be at eye level with her. She can see his worried brown eyes through the mask that covers his features. “Look at me”

“You’re… you’re…” The world seems to spin around her, and Stephanie is out of breath. “You’re The Batman”

“That’s right, I’m here to help” He reminds her, offering her his hand. “What’s going on?”

Stephanie gulps as he pulls her to her feet. It comes to her attention that he looks her up and down, reminding her of the outfit she’s wearing. A hero… she failed. The reason why she went there on the first place was because she wanted to help those people, but… reality becomes a little more stable as she realizes… not even the police stuck around.

“Can you hear me?” The Batman tries again. “What is happening?”

“I don’t know… I don’t know” All her thoughts are scrambled, too fast to stop as they slip through her lips. “Something… is wrong… I can’t explain it...”

A sudden urge to cry causes her to stare at him, begging for help. Maybe he knows what strange occurrence takes place in that street, or how to stop it, or how to end it. He doesn’t seem to, but his eyes are filled with compassion.

“I assume you wanted to help, but you can go” He tells her, supporting her as she feels herself swaying. “Don’t worry, everything will be alright”

Stephanie slowly nods, taking a deep breath and making an effort to fight through that strange trance of terror. No one has attacked her yet, despite her irrational conviction that they would.

“Go, get to safety” The Batman insists, gently letting go of her. “I’ll take care of this”

She opens her mouth. To warn him. He doesn’t know. Since he has just arrived, he has no idea what he will soon experience. But Stephanie can’t speak up. She barely has the strength to stand.

Stumbling and in a daze, she takes a step. She needs to get away from there, breathe a different air. Clean air, not contaminated with whatever is hurting her so. For that reason, she takes another step. And then another. Little by little, she gets away from there. The safety of her home has never felt so distant.

_

When she wakes up, Stephanie can barely remember how she clumsily plopped on the bed and fell asleep. She had nightmares that are impossible to remember. The fact that she is still wearing her hero outfit is proof that it really happened. She still feels feverish and exhausted from her attempt. Something out of the ordinary was happening there. She can only hope The Batman helped those people, and that he himself was safe after all of that.

Remembering she is supposed to meet Barry when he texts her a quick ‘omw’ that lets her know he will arrive soon, Stephanie gets up. She gets changed and stumbles through her own house as though the ground is shaking under her feet.

Her mind seems to clear up as the minutes pass. When she is done getting ready, she goes to the door where she is supposed to meet Barry. He isn’t there yet. At least, her thoughts feel more coherent and ordered now.

Even after that strange effect has passed, adark feeling stays with Stephanie, like a black cloud that stays with her. At first she assumed it was the rare burst of adrenaline traveling through her veins. Now she’s not so sure. Her heart hasn’t stopped beating erratically ever since then, and although there is no more danger she feels on edge. Frightened. She wonders if she really wasn’t as brave as she though she was, or that she abused her still recovering body too much, or if the experience was too harrowing to easily leave behind. Whatever the case, a sudden presence forces her away from those thoughts.

“Hi!” Barry jumps into place in front of her, bearing a wide grin that seems to brighten up the subtle darkness that has clouded her heart. “I’m here”

“You’re late again” The girl only says, even if she’s already smiling. Barry’s feeling has a healing effect that cures her lingering restlessness.

“I know, I’m so sorry” He dramatically sighs, although he does look a little tired. “Busy day”

“What did you do today?” Stephanie asks, trying to start a conversation while at the same time distract herself from her unease.

“Uh….. you know...” Barry shrugs. “Run around, do some errands, save the world…”

Stephanie laughs out loud at his joke, and he grins widely in return. However, the gesture vanishes from his face immediately after. He is staring at her with his brow knitted in concern.

“Steph, you look pale…” He whispers, rubbing her arm. “You okay?”

“Y-Yeah” She chuckles, internally panicking at the mere thought of him finding out about her powers and her little adventure. “I just… went for a walk to kill time… Guess I’m a little tired”

Barry pauses. She can almost see the wheels turning in his head. He is about to tell her that she should rest and take it easy, but he doesn’t. Instead, he dedicates her his best encouraging smile.

“I’m gonna spoil you today” His hand lingers on her arm. “You’re still recovering and you deserve to be spoiled”

“So it was a trap” Stephanie smirks, playfully rolling her eyes at him. “I should have known”

“There’s no escaping now” Barry offers her his arm, which she links with his. He then playfully arches his eyebrows. “Shall we?”

The pair smile at each other as they begin to walk. Barry immediately goes on about what they can do. They can get some snacks and take a little walk. Since she’s been locked inside for so long he wants her to get some air, but he’s stern on letting her rest, so maybe they should sit at a terrace. She doesn’t care what the plan is, she’s just happy to be with him. His presence is reassuring, silently reminding Stephanie that there is nothing to fear.

_

It has returned. That feeling of dread, of imminent danger. It isn’t nearly as strong as before, it merely feels like a shadow of its former self. Nonetheless, it is barely enough to make even breathing exhausting. Stephanie can’t focus.

Night is slowly falling as the sky turns a slightly darker shade of blue. It has orange and purple tinges as the last traces of the sunset erase from the horizon. The early night breeze envelops them, gentle like a caress.

Barry has been talking almost all evening, but Stephanie is no longer answering him. She is absently playing with the paper that the hot dogs they ate came in.

“What do you say?” Barry is saying then, but she’s not listening. “Steph?”

Stephanie is so out of it that she can’t answer. She grits her teeth, trying not to wince, when her temples begin throbbing. Her entire body is giving her signals. All she wants to do is rest. Sleep. Sleep for a really long time.

“Steph” He sternly calls her, taking her free hand when she feebly leans on him. “W-What’s wrong?”

“Nothing…” She gulps, avoiding his gaze as she lowers her head in the hopes that the stillness can level her dizziness. “Just got a bit light-headed”

“You sure you’re okay?” When she doesn’t answer, he continues. His voice carries a hint of panic. “You’re still recovering, maybe you should have stayed-”

“I’m okay” She rushes to say, trying her best to smile at him. “Just a bit tired”

“Steph, you almost died not that long ago” Barry gravely says, subtly sinking his fingers into her arm. “And you don’t look so good”

“Barry” She begins to say, tiredly tilting her head as she peers at him. Her vision blurs, but she tries to fight through her unwell. “I’m just… a bit weak…”

He doesn’t reply, only furrowing his brow and feeling a pang of concern in his chest. He had been scared enough to find her after the accident, it only makes it worse to see her in that state still. He doesn’t think he could take the idea of her not being alright.

“And…” Stephanie gulps, wobbling slightly. “V-Very dizzy…”

Barry wraps an arm around her. His heart is racing in unease. Just as he supports her, Stephanie falters. The breath hitches in his throat as he tightens his hold on her and presses her against his side.

“Steph?!” His voice breaks as the concern completely takes over him.

For a few seconds she doesn’t reply, only limply lying against him. Memories of finding her after the accident return to Barry, and he grimaces at the mental image. Luckily, she reacts in time to pull him out of those dark thoughts.

“I’m… okay…” She tells him in a daze, voice weak.

Still firmly holding on to her, he presses his free hand against her forehead. Stephanie’s skin feels warm, confirming his suspicions that she was still sick.

“I’m taking you home” Barry states. “No buts, you need to rest”

Stephanie babbles, opening and closing her mouth. If only he knew the true reason behind her state. But he can never know. In any case, she doesn’t feel lucid enough to speak. The mere idea that she has a secret identity feels far too surreal at the moment, even to herself.

“Can you walk?” Barry tenderly moves the hair away from her face, trying to take a good look at her. She only shakes her head, frowning as she tiredly puts her head on his shoulder. “Okay, up you go”

Straining a little, he grunts as he sweeps her off the floor and into his arms. Stephanie suddenly feels incredibly safe and comfortable in his embrace, and the deep unwell lessen slightly.

“You’re strong…” She chuckles, and she briefly wonders why she’s tilted to the side even though her head is still resting against his shoulder.

“See? You’re clearly delirious” They peer at each other for a moment.

The slight motion of picking her head off his shoulder sends a wave of vertigo through her. She whimpers, closing her eyes tight and gingerly resting her head on his shoulder again. Then, a sudden change of position startles her. When she opens her eyes, they are already at her place. Baffled, she feebly glances around. A moment ago they were… and now… she must be really delirious...

“We’re here” Barry carries her inside. “Do I need to take you to the hospital?”

“No, I just…” She starts to say, but her voice then becomes urgent. “Put me down”

Confused, Barry does as she says. When she is on her feet again, Stephanie presses her hands over her mouth. The wave of nausea soon passes, much to her relief. However, everything else does too.

Barry exclaims as he throw himself forward to catch her. Stephanie drops down, falling limply to the ground. His arms break her fall and he nervously scoops her into them again.

“Oh my gosh…” He mumbles as he rushes her to the bed. “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh…”

He shakily sighs to himself as he carefully lies her down. The girl’s arms stay locked around his neck even when he lets go of her. Barry stops to intently watch her. She now looks peaceful, as though she badly needed that rest. She’s resting, he tells himself. Yeah, just resting. Her chest softly moves up and down with her calm breathing.

“She’s okay” Barry assures himself, although he begins pacing up and down her room.

Thousands of terrible thoughts battle in his brain. She’s sick again. She hasn’t recovered. She’s dying. The accident was too much for her, she will never fully recover.

“Okay, calm down, Barry” He takes a deep breath, even if he still paces. “She’s fine, she’s gonna be alright”

He tells himself that all those thoughts are lies. They are just fears, not reality. Interrupting himself, Barry stops and looks at her again. Stephanie lies motionlessly in the bed. She is still pale, but she doesn’t look terribly sick. He sighs and resumes his pacing.

“She’s not as bad as she was in the hospital” Barry whispers, trying not to wake her. “She looked much worse then. Besides, Steph’s strong, she’ll be fine, she’ll be-”

Barry’s phone rings, startling him so much that he yelps and jumps in place.

“H-Hello?”

“Barry?”

The boy finally quits his pacing for good. His hand flies to his forehead. He had totally forgotten he was supposed to return to the Batcave after being with Steph. Things had seemed to gotten worse. After their rescue on the train, panic had seemed to reign on the streets for several hours. There was no explanation, but they knew it had something to do with the rest of strange events. And maybe a villain was behind it all.

But now… Stephanie needs him. She is sick. Now he can’t leave her.

“Bruce! I’m so sorry” Barry rapidly says. “I know I should be there, but Steph got really sick and…”

“Is she alright?”

“Y-Yeah, yeah… I think so…”

“And you?”

“I’m fine, I just got scared…” He sighs, settling his nerves. “Really freaking scared”

“So you can’t make it?” Bruce asks him, but at least Barry is relieved that there is no anger or annoyance in his voice.

“I’m afraid not… I’m really sorry, I just…”

“I understand” The man replies. “But we have to check that out”

“Sure, yeah!” Barry nervously ruffles his own hair. “You guys be careful out there, okay?”

“We will” Bruce gently says. “Take care of your friend”

“Yeah” The boy absently hangs up, turning to her once more. She is now lying over her side, having turned slightly in her sleep.

Barry watches her, wondering how he can contain such an immense amount of fondness for her. Just the sight of her pale face was enough to break his heart. If he could, he would hold her tight and never let go, protect her from everything.

When he slowly walks closer to her, a board of the wooden floor creaks. Barry freezes, but it’s too late. Stephanie groggily turns around, opening her eyes moving her head to look around her.

“Barry?” She mumbles, looking around, disoriented. “What…?”

What is Barry doing there with her? However, she quickly forgets about him when her eyes fall on the window. It’s almost dawn. An alarm blasts in her head as her usual routine occupies all her thoughts. She needs to get ready!

"I gotta go to work!" Stephanie makes to stand from the bed, but Barry is faster. He pushes her by the shoulders and forces her to lie down again.

"What?” He exclaims, feeling that anguish that he had just gotten rid of creeping up again. “Are you… are you serious?"

"Barry, I’m gonna be late! Our investigation is very important, it will help so many-"

“Oh my gosh, Steph!” He exclaims, in a surprisingly loud and exasperated voice that instantly silences her in astonishment. “Can you stop thinking about everyone else and take care of yourself for one minute?! Don’t you remember what happened to you?!”

And suddenly, with his words, Stephanie does remember. The accident, the hospital, the heroic attempt, the inexplicable dread in the air… Everything. She relaxes, forgetting about work. She now remembers she hasn’t gone to the lab in a week. But it’s too late for Barry.

Stephanie gawks at him, having no words to retaliate. His sudden outburst is so unexpected that she is utterly speechless. A second after he finishes his sentence, however, his eyes widen in surprise as well. They silently stare at each other.

“I’m so sorry” He utters, averting his gaze in shame. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you, I just…”

“You’re right… I just got a little disoriented” Stephanie reaches out to delicately take his hand, which he reluctantly allows. “I’m going to lie down, okay?”

The boy nods his head, and he doesn’t move at first even as she insists. When Stephanie tugs at his fingers, he starts to move slowly. Barry turns, hesitantly facing her. Stephanie only pulls a little harder, inviting to sit with her as she returns to her previous spot. Exhaling all the anguish in a shaky breath, Barry joins her in the bed.

No more words are spoken for several seconds. Stephanie doesn’t let go of Barry’s hand. His eyes are watery. Even as he looks away again, she knows, and that is why she tugs at him until they’re both lying down. Resting on their sides, they’re now facing each other. They just rest there for a moment, letting all the tension in the air to vanish and lingering on their positions until Stephanie’s soft voice breaks the silence.

“Are you okay, Barry?”

“Yeah...” He takes a deep breath in. “Just a little shaky”

“I’m sorry…” She mutters, and her hand is delicately pressing against his cheek before she can stop herself. “I really hate to worry you”

“You can’t scare me like that again, okay? Ever” Barry replies, taking her hand off his face and clutching it between both his palms. “Just when I thought you were out of danger you faint on me like that and…”

“I’m okay, Barry” Stephanie assures, chuckling a little when his eyes fall upon hers in a skeptical manner. “I’m better now, really, I just need some rest”

“I can assure you, you’re getting some rest” Remnants of that exasperated tone linger in his voice. “I’m making sure you get some sleep even if I have to lie all day here with you!”

“Is that a threat?” She tenderly smiles, and the callback causes Barry to chuckle.

He pauses, taking a moment to sigh and calm himself.

“Are you really feeling okay?” He lovingly presses her hand against his chest. His heart is drumming underneath it. “Don’t lie to me, Steph, I’ll know”

“I am, I promise” Stephanie snuggles closer to him, embracing his warmth and comforting presence. “Just a little tired”

“What happened to you?” He whispers in concern, even if his arm automatically falls over her frame. “I thought you had rested a lot, that you were recovered. Did I overdo it today? I really tried to…”

“No, no, it’s not that” The girl locks eyes with him, biting her lip as she wonders if she should tell him. In the end she partially does, thinking that he doesn’t need to know the true reason behind her little adventure. “When I went for that walk earlier I… I don’t know… Something affected me… It was like the air was contaminated… It made me feel scared and horrible”

“What was it?”

“I have no idea… I just know there’s something strange going on in this city”

“Yeah, I know…” Barry somberly mutters. After a brief pause, he feels his shoulders relaxing the closer she is. “Try to get some sleep, okay? I’ll watch over you”

Stephanie breathes in, just at the same time that Barry does, and peacefully exhales with him. She hasn’t been feeling safe ever since that awful experience from before. Now, next to Barry and enveloped by his arms, she feels the safest she’s ever been.

Tag list: @scared-to-be-lonely345​​ / @ocfairygodmother​ // Ask to be added to be notified when I post for this series!!

[redhoodieone]

It’s Cold in Here Part 12

Hi everyone! Here is Part 12 and I hope you all enjoy! Stay safe! 😘

WARNINGS: Language and violence.

Stone cold. Ice Queen. A beautiful dead corpse is all I see when I stare at my reflection in the mirror. The midnight blue off the shoulder long formal dress I’m wearing is worth more than my apartment. The diamond belt around my waist is something I’ve never dreamt of wearing. The two slits above my thighs is something I’ve absolutely never dreamed of showing before.

I didn’t pick out the dress. Alfred had delivered it to my apartment this morning.

A hairstylist and makeup artist that Bruce had hired had come by just three hours ago to do my hair and makeup. My long hair is pinned up in a beautifully bun, and two long strands of my hair are let down, and frame my face nicely.

My makeup is natural looking. I’m grateful the lovely woman had noticed my discomfort and decided against the heavy makeup, and instead had given me natural look.

After she had left, I remained in my bathroom in a frozen, unsure state. On the counter lies a large jewelry box from Dick, with a note I hadn’t exactly looked at.

I inhale sharply and gaze down at the note.

Wear this jewelry with the new dress. You’ll look stunning. Love, Dick.

I can feel my chest ache with nerves and uncertainty. Opening the jewelry box, I’m instantly shocked to see a gorgeous diamond choker, two large diamond stud earrings, and a simple diamond and sapphire bracelet.

I don’t want to wear any of it. I already feel guilty enough to have to go to Bruce’s gala tonight. And even worse...

Accepting Dick’s marriage proposal.

I slip on the jewelry and finally look into the mirror with my head up high. I notice that I look exactly like the girls Dick used to date back then. The kind of girls I would never become.

A gold digger.

Eye candy.

Fame seeker.

I’m aware that I’m starting to slowly lose myself to Dick. After that awful night of him forcing me to do sexual acts with him, I notice he’s become more distant than I was. We haven’t even spoke since; only text messaging and having Alfred be the messenger between us.

Poor Alfred...he has absolutely no clue of what’s happening between me and Dick. I know for a fact that Dick must have lied to him. Dick must have told Alfred he’s nervous about proposing to me or something.

The thought of Dick manipulating everyone makes me wonder how far and long he’s willing to go just to save his face and reputation. Would he even manipulate Bruce?

If Bruce truly believed our “engagement” was real, then he would surely be fooled like everyone else. And then that would be very humiliating and disappointing for the detective; the so called Dark Knight.

I slip on my black high heels and force myself to head to the living room to wait for Alfred to pick me up. I mentally scold myself to get my shit together just to get through the night. But it’s obviously hard to put on a brave face when all I want to do is lie in bed and ugly cry all day and night.

No one will ever understand what is going on between me and Dick.

My best friends Artemis and Zatanna.

The Batfamily.

Justice League.

All of Gotham.

Jason.

I can feel the tears burning behind my eyes just thinking about him. Jason Todd. He was my last hope. The night I tried calling him to come help me was a failure.

He was supposed to break free from whatever Mad Hatter did to him.

He was supposed to help me figure out how to end Deathstroke’d evil bullshit.

He was supposed to save me from Dick Grayson.

Jason was supposed to be my hero.

My doorbell rings, interrupting my thoughts as well as bringing me back to the harsh reality. I grab my black clutch that holds my cell phone and surprisingly hides my knife.

Just in case...

Alfred smiles at me the second I open the door. “I must say, you are an absolute beauty tonight. I’ll have to fight off men for you, Miss Y/N. Are you ready to leave?”

“Thank you Alfred. And yes, I’m ready please,” I say, stepping out and locking up the front door before Alfred escorts me to the elevators.

I’m grateful that Alfred keeps to himself most of the time. He keeps a space between us until we reach outside; the dark gloomy sky of Gotham sends a shiver down my bare back. I immediately regret not getting my white shawl to cover my shoulders. Alfred guides me to the limo and opens the back door for me to climb in.

“Master Dick is already at the gala. He said he’ll meet us out front for the red carpet pictures.”

I want to scoff. But instead I respond as nicely as I can. “Okay, thank you.”

My cell phone rings. I quickly open my clutch and tense up when I see the unknown number.

Deathstroke.

I look at the unread text message.

You better make sure you accept his proposal, Y/N. You’ll have to see it through if you and Dick want to live.

I can feel myself choking up from just the fear of this text message. Before I could even think or really do anything, the limo stops. We’re here.

Alfred opens my door and holds a hand out for me to grab onto. “Here we are, Miss Y/N,” he says with a gentle smile.

“Thank you, Alfred,” I say, with a small smile.

Alfred helps me out of the limo and as soon as he releases me, the paparazzi surround me. I’m forced to shield my eyes with a hand from what feels like a hundred cameras flashing at me. A hand grabs my wrist and I’m pulled closely to a warm, tall body. I look up and see Dick Grayson.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?” Dick asks, kissing my forehead, smiling down at me, pretending to be my loving concerned boyfriend.

I’m frozen from the affection but it doesn’t last long as Dick leads me inside the humongous building that’s holding Bruce’s gala.

I’m completely dazed from the million lights shining down on us when we enter the room. The ballroom is like a dream; marble flooring and exquisite art and statues surround everywhere. Men and women are dressed to the nines.

I even spot some Justice League members in disguise. Clark, Diana, Oliver, and Dinah are here and dressed so good.

I even spot Artemis with Conner and Zatanna with Tim, and even Damian, who are clearly shocked to see me here and with Dick.

I don’t blame them for being surprised as hell considering I’ve been MIA since...the last time they saw me or even spoke to me.

I frown and try to pull away from Dick’s strong grip to go speak to my friends, but he only tightens his hold on me.

My gaze shifts over to where bachelor and striking Bruce is standing in front of a tall man and blonde woman. My heart suddenly stops when I see Jason, handsome and sexy as ever in an all black suit with Isabel on his arm. He turns around and notices I’m staring at him. I expect him to glare at me or even give me a weird look since he clearly doesn’t remember me because of Mad Hatter.

But Jason doesn’t. He actually looks...confused.

I notice his dark hair is gelled but the messy spikiness is there. Possibly from running a hand through it. I automatically want to run my hand through his hair. I even want to hug him. I want to kiss him.

I want him.

I want Jason.

Dick practically drags me to the stage where he lowers his head to look me straight in the eyes.

“It’s going to happen right now. I can’t wait any longer,” Dick admits.

I swallow hard. “Okay, but could we talk about this first? Please?”

Dick shakes his head. Is he really going to ignore and pretend that this is all real? “It’s happening. I’m...I’m going to ask you to marry me. You’re going to say yes. You’re going to kiss me. And-and we’re going to live happily after. Do you understand?” he snaps, barely quiet enough for others to not hear.

My eyes glance over at Jason, who blinks a few times and looks all around himself and appears to be more aware. He turns to Isabel and he becomes angry; startling her and Bruce, and even others around them.

I look back to Dick, but I suddenly gasp in shock when I see Wally entering the gala in a suit. He stops walking as soon as he sees me and Dick closely together.

This is wrong.

I can’t say yes to Dick.

I can’t do this to Jason and Wally. This isn’t fair to them.

Wally loves Dick.

And I love Jason.

And the thought of saying yes to Dick makes me feel guilty because I don’t want to marry him.

I can’t lie.

I can’t pretend anymore.

I can’t do this.

We’ll find a way to stop Deathstroke. We’ll find a way to help Dick.

Dick stares down at me. His blue eyes are burning into mine. He looks pissed at me. He looks like he hates every single part of me. He sees me as his enemy.

But he can’t or won’t see how this is killing me.

“I...can’t. I can’t say yes and I can’t marry you,” I confess quietly. “I’m sorry.”

I notice Dick’s hand is squeezing my wrist tighter. The pain he’s causing me makes me wince and whimper in pain. His other hand is digging into his pocket and he reveals a small black jewelry box.

From the corner of my eye, I can see Jason, Bruce, and Wally approaching us with concerned looks.

Dick lowers his face closer to whisper in my ear. “You’re going to say yes to me, you fucking selfish bitch. I don’t give a shit about what you want or don’t want. You better say yes, and you better be my wife before I make your life a living nightmare,” he threatens quietly before he chuckles darkly. “Just like your past nightmare with Daddy Dearest.”

My eyes widen in horror when Dick mentions my stepfather; the man who emotionally and physically hurt me with sexual abuse. I lower my eyes to the floor. I know this has to be the final straw. Dick has crossed a line that I don’t even think he could take back or make it right.

I force myself to look back up at Dick but my attention is taken away from him and is now on the sky roof. Across the way on another building stands Deathstroke, who has his gun aimed directly at Dick’s back.

Oh my fucking God. Deathstroke is going to shoot and kill Dick!

Deathstroke knows I said no. He knows I’m not going to accept Dick’s marriage proposal. He knows I’m not going to do what he wants me to do.

I have to do something. I realize I have a choice. I know what I have to do.

And if I die, at least I die knowing I did care and love for Dick Grayson.

Even if he doesn’t love me back.

I follow my instincts that I was trained to act on. Without a second thought, I jump in front of Dick; allowing the faster-than-fuck killing bullet to pierce through my flesh at my right shoulder.

It burns. It’s making me bleed. It hurts like fuck.

I fall back onto Dick. He catches me and we crash to the floor. I can feel him sit up and gasp loudly in panic when he sees I’ve been shot and am bleeding.

“No...no!” Dick cries out. He puts his hands on the seeping wound and puts pressure on it.

Through the stinging pain, I can see everyone around us is frozen and staring in fear at the window where the bullet came from. I follow their stares and notice what they’re looking at.

Deathstroke is on the roof across the way. Everyone sees his gun is aimed right at the building. He shot me.

He waves at me and shoots his grapple gun to come straight at us.

[soulmate-game]

Part 1 … Part 2

“So, How was your first day of school in America?” Lois asked as her small family all sat around the table eating dinner. It was almost painfully ordinary, traditional. A married couple and two kids eating a normal dinner and talking about their day.

All of them appreciated that one piece of normalcy in their worlds of superheroes and villains and PTSD.

Marinette snorted, almost choking on her forkful of food. After managing to somehow swallow without causing herself discomfort, she smiled at her mother figure.

“Honestly? I know Jon could fly and I could teleport to school in practically no time at all, but somehow Damian still manages to seem more impressive.”

“Right?!” Jon agreed emphatically, leaning over the table towards her and almost getting his whole plate of food smashed against his chest. “Probably because helicopters are huge and look awesome, but we’re still just us when we use our powers.”

Marinette nodded sagely at that reasoning as if it was something actually serious. Tikki, who was sitting next to her plate with a half-eaten cookie, giggled.

“That makes sense. But be careful Kaalki doesn’t hear you referring to them as ‘not impressive—‘“ Marinette was cut off before she could even finish her sentence.

“Too late, I already heard that blasphemy,” the other Kwami’s voice carried down from upstairs, making Lois and Clark’s lips twitch up in amusement. “I’m a god, dear, I have even better hearing than Kal-El,” for some reason the little horse god always referred to the boys by their kryptonian names, but they didn’t seem to mind much. “Not as impressive as a helicopter, hah! See if I let you use my fabulous powers anytime soon, Guardian or no Guardian.”

Marinette just rolled her eyes. Technically she could just command Kaalki, but that was against her morals and the horse god would never keep her from responding to an Akuma attack anyway. This was just harmless teasing.

And it was really nice in contrast to everything they were used to dealing with.

“Okay, but besides the helicopter,” Clark pressed gently after everyone’s chuckles quieted down. His face was open with genuine curiosity, and a little bit of worry that Marinette caught onto instantly. “I know Damian isn’t always the easiest person to get along with or understand. Did the rest of the day go by alright?”

Marinette actually set her fork down on her plate, her smile turning a little gentle. “Actually? Yeah. When we first spoke I thought he was a stuck-up jerk like some of my ex-friends and a bully of mine from Paris. But he’s just not good with people,” Marinette’s smile turned even softer as she gazed down at the table, at some memory nobody else could see. “It reminds me of my friend Kagami, from Paris. She acts pretty similar. Really impersonal and prickly on the outside, but once you get to know her she’s the most loyal friend you’ll have. Her mom is really strict though, and Kagami never got to interact with a lot of kids her own age, so she still has issues figuring out how to behave around others sometimes,” Marinette actually ended up laughing a little, rubbing the back of her neck. “We uh, we actually had a crush on the same person back when we first met and it sparked a pretty rough rivalry for a while. Once we got past that though, we ended up being best friends.”

Jon snickered, trading knowing glances with their parents. They had already agreed that, unless Damian or Bruce told her themselves, Marinette would have to figure out the Bat’s identities on her own.

“That sounds very familiar,” Jon stated with a little nod. “Me and Damian fought when we first met, too. Legend has it that Dad and Bruce, Damian’s dad, didn’t get along right away either.”

It was Clark’s turn to snort. “I think it’s just a Wayne thing,” the man agreed, amused. “They don’t like getting close to anyone right off the bat,” Lois kicked his leg under the table for that pun, but Clark cheerfully ignored it. “It is pretty funny that you have a similar experience with someone completely unrelated, though. Maybe we should invite her over sometime? Do you know when her school’s next break is?”

Marinette sat up straight in her chair, her smirk wide and almost blinding at the prospect of seeing one of her closest friends in person again. They video chatted and called often enough, but it wasn’t the same. “Actually! Kagami told me that she’s going to Gotham next month for a fencing competition. She’s an Olympic hopeful, you know. She has to make a good enough impression in different national and international competitions to be selected,” Marinette was almost bouncing in her seat, looking like a female version of Jon for a moment with her vibrant blue eyes shining with rare unhindered excitement and her body unable to stay still from the energy.

“I heard that Gotham was holding the World fencing finals this year,” Lois remarked, but kept eye contact with Clark for a moment as the two communicated silently in a way even telepaths couldn’t copy. Marinette recognized the hesitance in their faces, and her bouncing stopped immediately. She knew why they would be reluctant to let her go.

“I know Gotham is dangerous and I still have attacks pretty often,” Marinette’s voice was suddenly soft, but firm in a way that the rest of their little family hadn’t heard from her much at all. It made Clark and Lois look at her, waiting for her to finish making her point patiently. “But self defense isn’t really an issue. Even without any powers, without transforming, I…” Marinette took a breath to steel herself before continuing. “I learned martial arts from Maman. And I’ve used the Miraculous so long that all the combat experience of the previous Ladybugs is mostly muscle memory by now. And Kagami is more than just a fencer, her mom’s trained her in all sorts of sword fighting her whole life. Trust me, nobody messes with Kagami and gets away with it easily,” Marinette actually looked down at her hands, watching as she essentially had a thumb war with herself to avoid meeting anyone’s eyes.

“I don’t think physical attacks are what we’re worried about,” Lois admitted slowly, frowning. “I mean, yes, it’s a concern. But if I remember the dates for the competition correctly, I’ll be out of town for my first long distance job since you came to live with us. Clark will be at work during the day on the weekend, though maybe he can get a day or two off,” Lois gently worried her bottom lip with her teeth for a second. “I suppose, if Jon wants to go with you, it wouldn’t be as much of a problem if something happens…”

Oh. They weren’t worried about people attacking her. They were worried about her own mind. Which, after the last few months? Was perfectly fair.

“I don’t mind if—“

But, as life usually ended up, they were interrupted from their peace. Everyone jolted in their seats as the door was unceremoniously kicked down, and a man in his early twenties walked in carrying a mountain of boxes in his arms. Marinette blinked, no longer on guard since the rest of her new family immediately relaxed. But still, she was confused. Nobody said anything about having a visitor today.

“I know, I know. I haven’t been in touch for way too long, give us a little forewarning, blah blah blah. I brought presents this time though,” the man said, cheerful and casual and blasé. With the boxes on the center of the dining table, Marinette could finally get a good look at him.

He was probably about twenty four or twenty five, if Marinette’s ever-sharp eyes were correct (they hardly ever weren’t), and his hair was spiked up with a bit of gel, but not too much. Just enough to give it kind of a tousled-rebel look, and it was cropped close to his head on the sides. He had on a black leather jacket with spikes on the shoulders and slightly down the arms, with slightly baggy black jeans and a plain, worn red shirt. Dark black sunglasses rested on the top of his head, even though the sun had been down for a while.

He did not meet the usual Kent aesthetic of a charming, traditional nuclear family. He was more of an… oddly joyful punk. It actually gave her slight Luka and Jagged vibes, and made her relax a bit into her chair. Contrary to what most might think, Marinette had a bit of a soft spot for the punk rocker look. Most people, that she had met at least, who wore it on a regular basis were amazing people with great senses of humor and large personalities.

“Old man, I got you socks,” he called out with a lazy smirk, chucking the first small box over at Clark. The man caught it with a fond eye roll.

“You always get me socks.”

“Maybe if you stopped being boring, I’d get you something better,” the stranger mocked with good humor. “Lois, jewelry that you’ll never wear,” he handed the box over to the woman with significantly more care, before sliding over one of the bigger boxes to her as well. “And a new camera that you will actually use.”

“Hey, Wait a second, you know you don’t have to—“

“And for the squirt,” the man interrupted without letting Lois finish saying that there was no need to spend so much money. He tossed the last big boxes over to Jon one at a time carelessly, smirking the whole time that Jon playfully scrambled for them. “Video games, geeky shirts, and inside jokes,” he stated happily.

With the table now clear of boxes, he finally noticed the extra body. He blinked, making silent eye contact with Marinette for a tense moment.

“Okay, she’s too old to be a secret child. Did someone make another clone? Did Jon get a girlfriend that looks freakishly like a long lost Asian family member? What did I miss?” He asked, never taking his eyes off Marinette. Clark grimaced.

“If you didn’t break your phone so often, maybe we would have been able to tell you sooner,” the man said slowly, cautiously, with his eyes never straying from the stranger. “This is Marinette. Marinette, this is Connor. He’s… Jon’s brother,” the pause there was a bit odd, and Marinette frowned at the look on Clark’s face. It was like he didn’t know what to say at all, or how to say it. “Marinette is living with us for the foreseeable future. If we get the chance we might officially adopt her, so she isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.”

“Woah woah woah, what?” Marinette’s voice came out a lot squeakier than intended, the girl thoroughly whiplashed by this situation. It was hard to think straight. “I— we never talked about adoption.” Clark’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Well, not in as many words,” he conceded slowly. “It would be incredibly hard, and we wanted to give you time to settle in before asking. But… well, you’re officially an American citizen and we all feel like you’re family already. So…”

“You wouldn’t have to change your name,” Lois was quick to interject, watching Marinette’s face worriedly. “And you can say no. You’re already a Kent. We would just like to make it official legally, if and when you’re ready.”

“Okay, stop making the poor girl freak out,” Connor interrupted, eyes also on Marinette and gentle in their concern. He gave her a lopsided smile. “Ignore them. Clark never had great timing that wasn’t related to legitimate danger. So, sorry I didn’t get you anything,” he leaned back casually, thumbs hooked on his jacket pockets lazily. “Didn’t expect I’d have a new sister when I came back to visit.”

Marinette calmed down a little, but emotions still overflowed in her head, her chest still tight and the air feeling too thin. She offered Connor a shaky smile before standing up, looking over to Clark and Lois. “Um, I— can I— I’m tired.”

Clark sighed, nodding even as his face fell at Marinette’s state. “Yeah. We’ll talk about the competition some more in the morning, get some rest.”

The girl only nodded before making a hasty retreat up to her room, even forgetting to take care of her only half-empty plate. Tikki did her best to calm her bolder down from her place hidden in the girl’s hair, but it wasn’t doing much good. She just needed space, and time to try and process everything.

—*—*—*—*—*

“Aren’t you cold?” Connor’s voice made Marinette jolt, looking over at him with wide eyes. Nobody had ever followed her on her post-nightmare trips before. She wasn’t even transformed. She just sat, in her pajamas, on the empty terrace of her old home. It hadn’t been sold yet so she wasn’t worried about scaring anybody.

“I… should have expected you to be the other Superboy, honestly,” Marinette deflected with a weak smile before turning to look over the city again. She licked her lips, trying to calm herself down. “And yeah, I’m a little cold, but it’s no big deal. I’ll just go back home before it gets too bad.”

“You’re trembling,” he pointed out casually. And she was, her whole body was practically vibrating against the terrace railing. Marinette only gave out a pitiful laugh.

“That’s not from the cold.”

Connor only sighed, crossing his arms and leaning back against the wall behind them. Gave the girl a little space.

“What did… What did Clark and Lois tell you? About me?” Marinette decided to ask tentatively. Connor raised one brow, honestly a little surprised that she didn’t also have super hearing to go with her powers. It was slowly becoming more and more obvious that Marinette was not exactly like the other Kents, and Connor only liked the jumpy little girl more for it.

“As much as they could without feeling like they were crossing a line,” Connor admitted. “That they took you in after an accident during a metropolis attack a few months ago, when you had nobody else reliable enough to take care of you. That you’re not Kryptonian, but still special and knew about all of our identities already. But strangely enough they didn’t mention teleportation or the fact that you were a Parisian superhero, not that I’m really all that surprised.”

Marinette smiled, snickering a bit at that last part before sobering again. “Is it… weird?”

Connor silently examined the girl for a moment, she probably expected him to ask what she meant. And maybe if he was anybody else, he would have.

“To suddenly come home to a new person that I’m suddenly supposed to accept as a part of the family? Not really. In fact, you’re probably the most normal surprise I’ve dealt with in years.”

“But,” Marinette looked back at him, eyebrows furrowed and blue eyes swimming with uncertainty. “But I just show up out of nowhere, and you really just accept me? Just like that? I mean, you’ve known me less than a day and you just saw me teleport to Paris in the middle of the night— you aren’t worried at all? Or suspicious, or— you really just accept me just like that?”

Connor couldn’t help but chuckle, pushing himself off the wall to lean over the terrace railing with her. “You know, technically I’m only eight years old.”

Marinette flinched with surprise at the subject change, eyes wide. “Huh?”

Connor laughed at her confusion, rustling her hair a bit. “I’m a clone. I was made with Superman’s DNA, and that of another asshole we won’t mention. Don’t tell Lois I swore. Anyway, I was ‘born’ as a teenager,” he used finger quotations to show that he wasn’t exactly born normally. “With all the mental development and knowledge of a sixteen year old. Pretty much, anyway, but I was still a newborn,” he shrugged. “Clark wasn’t exactly thrilled. Jon was eight at the time, which is why Clark can never decide if I’m the older or younger brother, and he wasn’t exactly planning on another kid back then. Not to mention the whole ‘created in order to kill Superman if he ever went bad,’ and ‘might be a spy because I was made by his arch nemesis’ thing,” Connor waved his hand as if this blasé info dump didn’t actually matter. Marinette just gaped at him, which made it hard for the guy not to smirk. “Point is, Clark was suspicious. Didn’t exactly want anything to do with me. Can’t say I completely forgive him, but it’s mostly water under the bridge nowadays. Especially when we found out that I did have trigger words, and I was unknowingly dangerous. Don’t worry, those trigger words were erased ages ago. Anyway, Clark eventually got his act together. Gave me the Kryptonian name Kon-el, had me live with him for a little bit. We worked it all out,” Connor turned back to Marinette, taking his sunglasses off so he could look her in the eye properly. “I really don’t think a Ladybug is exactly threatening in comparison.”

Marinette was silent for a moment.

“You know I could throw you off this balcony, right?”

“Eh, I can fly.”

Another moment passed before Marinette couldn’t help it, and started giggling. Those giggles turned to laughs, which quickly turned into joyful bellows. Connor joined in, smiling as he laughed alongside her.

“But… you like it with them, right?” Connor suddenly asked, looking over at her. “I know Jon can be a bit overexcitable, and Clark is an annoying boy scout.”

Marinette just shrugged. “Well, it’s not too bad,” she said softly. “I mean, at least neither of them can die by getting crushed by falling debris. So that’s an improvement at least.” Marinette instantly went pale at her own words, slapping a hand over her mouth. Connor snorted, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

“Yeah, that’s the exhaustion talking. C’mon, let’s get you back in bed before Clark accuses me of corrupting you.”

Marinette just nodded, doing the world’s quietest transformation before opening a portal back to her room. She was already detransformed, Connor having one hand on her doorknob, when she spoke up again.

“Uh, Kon?” She fidgeted, not able to look up at him. “Thanks.”

The man just smirked, shrugging his leather-clad shoulders. “That’s what family’s for, right?”

Marinette smiled, huffing out a tired laugh. “By the way? I’m glad at least one of you Supers has a sense of fashion.”

“We heard that!”

Connor and Marinette broke back out into guffaws, and the girl couldn’t help but think that she was really grateful for her new family. Maybe she wouldn’t call Clark dad or Lois mom anytime soon, those wounds were still too raw, but maybe eventually. And she’d never had brothers before.

Yeah. This was nice.

—*—*—*—*—*

Part 4

I don’t think this ended up as good as the others..? But this is the best way I could write this part. Why is this story turning out longer than expected? Geez I need to learn self control. At least this one was actually kinda fluffy.

@fantasiame @thestressmademedoit @amayakans @resignedcatservant @too0bsessedformyowngood @chocolatecatstheron @mooshoon @jeminiikrystal @bigpicklebananatree @thezestywalru @bugaboosandbees @ironspiderstark @mikantsume @marinettepotterandplagg

[bigfan-fanfic]

Coulrophobia 4

Hey @peter-the-pan​

“Okay... she’s got about thirty seconds to explain or I’m gonna take her out.”

“I’d like to see you try, circus freak.”

“Twenty-seven seconds.”

So, out of the blue, Talia al Ghul of the League of Assassins had shown up with a little half-pint runt, claiming he was Bruce’s son.

And upon learning what Talia did to Bruce in order to become pregnant with said little half-pint runt, it takes Red Hood, Nightwing, Harley, and Prank to hold you back before you straight up beat her to death.

In the past year or so, Jason became Red Hood, kind of a mix between Nightwing’s style and Prank’s style. He’s the point between the fear and stealthy Bat side of the family and the loud and distracting Joker side.

“To be perfectly, fair, we are in the market for a new Robin.” you muse. “Besides, kid, it ain’t your fault you lost the mother lottery.

It’s fair to say you don’t get along with Talia.

She hates you because her only competition for Bruce’s affections in this world is apparently an insane clown - and the insane clown wins every time!

And Damian hates you because Talia hates you.

But his attempts to kill you are thwarted by Harley and Prank and Red Hood, who launch a vicious counterstrike. Damian suddenly cannot sneak anywhere around you without succumbing to itching powder, random shocks from joy buzzers, and once being stuffed into a giant whoopee cushion with his head only sticking out.

“Gotta hand it to ya. I don’t even know where you got that thing!” you approve. 

Damian slowly comes to respect you, especially since he appreciates how much more ruthless you are than Batman. Sure he pretends like he’s willing to do the dirty stuff, but you do not hesitate to break legs beyond repair or seltzer gangster in the face repeatedly.

Plus while the Bat is summarily hated by Gotham, even though they approve of the effect he has, the Joker is quickly becoming a city symbol of hope and laughter in the face of harsh circumstances. Colorful smoke bombs, confetti blasts, and bright attire are a much appreciated burst of awesome to Gotham’s drab setting.

People have even started forming a Joker Gang - people in clown masks and bright clothing. Half of these people fight crime during the day in their masks, swarming petty thieves or gangsters and pelting them with paint, firecrackers, or water balloons. The other half cleans up the city, leaving painted murals in bright colors, occasionally pulling harmless “pranks,” like painting Main Street rainbow for Pride Month. 

But anyway, you make it your mission to destroy Talia if she steps within a mile of your husband or Damian.

Damian becomes the new Robin, since his training and discipline make him better suited to the regimented style. But there’s always room for improvement on both sides.

Bruce, Dick, and Damian begin taking cues from Jason and start incorporating your wild, vicious moves into their styles, while you, Harley, and Prank  creatively employ gadgets and stealth.

And Damian comes to respect you and even love you, because crazy though you might be, you still care and would do anything for him. ANYTHING.

And slowly, Gotham goes from biggest crime hub to actually nice city???

And what does that mean for your family?

Well, everything changes when a certain reporter named Clark Kent comes calling...

[riseofnightwing]

Days Gone ll Dick Grayson Imagine CH1

Summary: Reader’s powers try to warn her that something bad is coming up while Dick has to travel to a Justice League mission and something terrible happens.

Pairing/Relationship: Married!Dick Grayson x Titan!Wife!Reader

Warnings: ***100% angst***, i cried while writing it so..If you like angst, you’re hopefully going to like it too.

**y/sn= your nickname

It was going to be one of those days.

You felt it by the way that the rain covered San Francisco. The feeling in your chest wasn’t clear but you recognized it as the same feeling you felt in the day your parents died when you were just a kid.

The rain fell non-stop as you looked  through the window of your and Dick’s shared room. You were still in your pajamas when the boy entered the room, he had woken up earlier as usual to check the tower and the team, leaving more time for you to sleep.

“Hey, gorgeous, how you’re doing this morning?” You heard your husband’s voice; you turned to look at him, only to find him staring at you with half smile on his face, the same one that used to bring you peace, but now, not even it could take the bad feeling out of your chest.

“Good Morning, love” you smiled at him “So do you think i’m still gorgeous even with a sleepy face and my pajamas?” you pushed him by the the collar of his famous social blue shirt that you loved so much.

“You’re always going to be the prettiest woman ever” he caressed your hair with his hand leaving the free hand to place it in your waist “I love you”

“I love you, Grayson.” You answered him with a hint of sadness in your voice.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Dick asked you

“I don’t know, Dick, something’s wrong. My powers aren’t making it clear to me so I can’t see what exactly will happen but it’s unquiet here, you know? My mind is as misty as today’s sky and I don’t have a good feeling, not at all.” He listened to you carefully as he always did, so compreensive.

“Maybe you just have to wait, baby. They will make you understand better when it’s time, i’m sure. Don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe, right?”

“You, protector of Blüdhaven, Gotham City and San Francisco will keep me safe? Well, I feel honored.” You mocked him trying to ease the tension. “I’ll be fine baby, as long as you’re with me."

He smiled tenderly at you. 

“I came here to tell you something” he said, changing the subject

“What’s up?” You asked him

“Clark and Diana called. They need me in Washington to help the Justice League.” He told you. That same feeling you were harbouring this morning came rushing back and settled in your chest, heavier this time. Your expression changed immediately.

“Dick..” you breath deeply, looking down and his hands run to your face.

“Hey, just one mission and I’ll be back, Bruce will be there.” he said 

“Tell them you can’t go, tell them we will need you tonight here in San francisco.. just please, don’t go” He felt the fear in your voice as you tried to make him stay. You would never ask him to decline a misson but it wasn’t a normal kind of situation.

“Listen, I know what you’re feeling and I don’t think you should ignore it. But I can’t decline a call from Clark, he wouldn’t call me if it wasn’t important..It’s Clark, I can’t do this to him.”

You felt your eyes watered and you looked down.

“ I don’t want this bad feeling to be about you because.. I wouldn’t bare losing you, Richard” You said in a small voice.

“I’ll call you every minute i’m free to tell you that I’m okay. Hey” he lifted your face with his finger  “I’ve done this many times, and I came back, I always came back to you.” He said softly caressing your cheek

“You better do that" You did your best to keep a serious face, but when he kissed you you instantly melted.

------

Dick packed what he needed with your help, he got his suitcase and his favourite jacket and walked down towards the elevator.

“Promise me you won’t get too worried, alright? I love you” Dick said touching his forehead with yours.

“Be carefull, Wing, I Love you too”

The brown haired guy kissed you deeply and waved goodbye to the others too.

“Bye, guys, be careful, see you soon.”

“Bye Dick” Rachel replied.

The doors of the elevator closed and you took a deep breath while Donna put a hand in your shoulder.

“C’mon, let’s watch some GOT, girls time” and you both made your way to her bedroom.

You and Donna binged watched almost the entire first season.  You glanced at your watch thinking it was almost time for Dick to arrive in Washington and as if your thoughts were connected, your phone started vibrating and his smiley face appeared on the screen.

“Hey Donn, it’s Dick calling, be right back.” You told the black haired woman who was still watching TV and didn't even pay attention to you.

“Hey, I just landed and now i’m on my way to meet the league.”  Dick said.

“Hey, Wing, how was the trip? All fine?” you asked him

“I just feel a tightness in my heart, you know?” He said and you tense “It’s because I miss you” he laughed.

“You’re an ass, you know?” you laughed along with him.

“It's true” you heard his deep breath “I wish you could be here”

“Me too”

“Babe, i’m already in the league’s base. I’ll call you before we leave to the mission, alright?”

“Alright, be careful.” you replied.

“Love you"

Hearing that he was okay was a relief, maybe your bad feeling was about something else, you hoped. You entered Donna’s bedroom and found her on her feet ready to leave the room.

“Hey Donn, wanna train?” You asked her.

“Let’s go, so I can kick your ass” she mocked you.

“As if you could” you laughed.

---

It was already night and you have just finished cleaning the kitchen. You, Donna, Dawn and Rachel were having a girl’s talk when you heard your phone ringing.

“I’ll be back in a minute, girls” you told them.

“Hey, bird boy” you said.

“Hey, babe. Just wanted to update. We're about to leave for the mission. It’s the Legion of Doom, they’re causing panick in Washington. Just called to say that i love you”

“Couldn’t they give a break? Damn.. go there and end them. I love you so and watch out.”

“I will, don’t worry, see ya soon” he said softly an you hung up.

--

The next morning, you woke up earlier. It was 5am when you got up. Normally you’d wake up later than Dick, but something was wrong and it disturbed you so much that you couldn’t get a decent night of sleep.

You glanced at your phone looking for a message from Dick or even a call but nothing. Maybe things were bigger and they took more time to solve it. You’d wait.

It was night when you and Hank were training Gar and Rose on an intense class of martial arts. Your mind was somewhere else and you were doing your best but Hank knew you well enough to notice.

“Hey, Y/n. You got your head in the clouds?” he asked you smiling.

“I’m sorry, guys, Let’s do it again, I’m here now” you smiled weakly and you all returned to training.

Later that night, when the training was already over, you took a bath and went to the living room, he should be coming back home, you wished he was, so you kept waiting.

No call, no message, no nothing. It wasn’t like you were obsessed but it wasn’t normal of Dick to wait this long to text you, even more so when he knew how you were feeling when he left. It was weird and you tried to think he was okay, he was just busy.

You ended up sleeping on the couch waiting for him. the next morning, you felt a hand on your shoulder and you woke up wishing you could see his figure, but it was just Rachel, who was worried about you.

“Hey, y/n, why don’t you go to bed?”

“Hey Rache” You smiled at her “I just fell asleep here”

“He’s not back yet, but i'm sure he’s just doing he’ll be back soon.” She talked about her mentor with pride and you smiled at her keeping the your thoughts to yourself. She didn’t need to know or worry about it.

4 days later

You were getting crazy

Five days had passed with no news about Dick. You knew something was wrong,you just couldn't quite put your finger on it. You tried to call Bruce many times, but he never answered.

It was like they had disappeared.

Night came without any news either, and the titans were reunited in the the room before the training. Rachel and Gar were inside their room, hopefully studying, while the others were talking about life like you all used to do.

You were trying to keep your mind out of it and think that he was okay, because after all, that’s what he asked you to do.

Suddenly, the elevator doors opened, and you stood up with a sight of hope that it was Dick who came back from Washington, but it revealed someone else: Bruce Wayne. He looked at you specifically, you didn’t know what to expect or what to say.

“Hey, Bruce. What’s up?” You heard Jason’s voice and Bruce kept a serious look on his face.

“Hey, Bruce. I tried to call you but i didn’t get an answer, where’s Dick?” You asked him, waiting for what he had to say.

“I...I’ve tried to figure out a way to tell you that...” He seemed to be out of words “Dick is dead Y/n, I’m sorry” he said looking in your eyes.

You stood there in silence,  trying to understand what you had just heard.

“What do you mean?” It was the only thing you were able to say.

“He got shot in the head, Y/n. I’m truly sorry. He’s gone” He had an apologetic look on his face. His voice seemed so far from you

He is gone.

Your chest felt heavy. As if someone had dropped a ton of bricks on top of you, cutting the air from reaching your lungs. You finally understood what Bruce meant.

Dick died.

Your realised you were crying when you tasted the salt of your tears.

“No...” you tried to ignore the lump that formed in your throat. “No, he- he left for a mission and he should be back by now. You were with him, and now you tell me that he is gone!?” You asked in desbelief.

“How dare you coming here and telling me that my husband is dead?” You spoke a little louder, you got closer to him now to face him;

“I’ve been waiting for him to come back home for 5 days, can you understand it? I’ve waited for him to come back, to see him or hear his voice and I got nothing, Bruce, how could you let it happen?” you screamed at the man, you were in too much pain to care about anything

You felt a hand on your shoulder. It was Jason trying to show you some support, he was also crying, the other titans were too shocked to react.

“I’m truly sorry” Bruce didn’t know how to tell you this, he tried to come earlier but he was too hurt, just like you “I brought you this box with all his things” he left a box on the table and left.

The whole situation was too much, your mind tried to process while your body couldn’t answer and the feeling in your heart was of hundreds of knives stabbing it.

Dick wasn’t coming back home anymore.

When the man left, all you could do was cry, you couldn’t move, so you stood there. Jason guided you to the couch so you could sit. The room was silent, they were also trying to digest such horrible news. Jason brought you the box, it was the only thing you received.

You took the box and thanked Jason, you needed to breath, you needed to be alone to understand, but the truth was you just wanted to run and find him. You wanted to believe it wasn’t true and that  any moment now he would walk through the  door saying he was finally back.

“I’m sorry guys, i...” You said trying to excuse to leave to your bedroom.

“Don’t worry take your time” Donna said, she understood what you were feeling because she also lost the love of her life.

You nodded  and left with the box in your hands.

When you got in the bedroom, you were broken. Every little thing you looked remind you of him. His smell was still there. You grabbed the box and opened it.

It was extremely painful, but it was the only thing he left before dying.

All of his clothes were inside;  the jacket he wore when he left.  You pulled it to your chest, hugging it hoping that the numbness would go away.

His wedding ring was also there, he used to take it off to wear the suit. You cried your heart out. You just wanted him back.

You started getting tired, it was too much for your body to take, so you slept attached to his jacket.

“Save me, y/n, save me” Dick said with blood streaming down his head.

“Tell me what I can do, Dick, I’ll save you” you cried trying to hold him.

“You can’t” He said disappearing.

Kory woke up when she heard you screaming. She ran to your bedroom, finding you asleep, disturbed by nightmares.

“y/n wake up, it’s just a nightmare.” She told you trying to shake you awake. You were covered in sweat and panting.

“Kory” You hugged her, now crying

“Shh, calm down, it’s okay”

“He asked me to save him, Kory, I couldn’t and now he’s dead”

“Listen to me, it wasn’t your fault. if you want to blame someone, blame the person who killed him, okay? You need to sleep, you’ve been through a lot.”

You nodded at her and before she left she hugged you. You were thankful for friends like Kory.

--

Days passed t and the grief was taking over you, little by little. The nightmares never stopped and the numbness never left you.

You were in the rooftop watching the sunset; you breathed deeply accepting the air from the cold breeze of San Francisco in your lungs before releasing it.

“Hey Dick” you were talking to the sky in a hope that he could hear you.

“I’m lost” You try to hold your tears “When you left, you took everything with you. The abscence of you is everywhere I look. It’s like a huge hole have been ripped through my chest and the pain only reminds me that  you are not here anymore.” tears streamed down your face;

“Wherever you are Wing; know that you are safe in my heart.”

[bruciewayne]

“Hypothetically,” Bruce starts, “if I wanted to get a present for my friend, how would I, hypothetically, go about that?”

Clark has that look on his face that means he desperately wants to laugh at Bruce but, out of some mid-western-bred politeness, refrains from doing so, “Well, what’s the occasion. Hypothetically.” Clark is sitting cross-legged in the air, helping Bruce with a case that has something to do with the increase of muggings in Metropolis and stabbings in Gotham, which is what Bruce told himself to justify asking Clark to come by.

“It’s a rare occasion,” Bruce says, in lieu of ‘birthday’, because that would be all too obvious.

Clark raises an eyebrow. “How rare?”

Bruce scowls. “It occurs every 1461 days.”

Clark has that look in his eye, which reminds Bruce that he’s far more clever than he lets on. “Every four years? Well, I’m not too sure you can give the Olympic games a gift, but you can always ask the IOC.” And far more of a troll than he decides to the public know, in either of his identities.

Bruce’s scowl deepens, “I need to get a present for a person... a person I care very much for.”

And it’s far too obvious, but it doesn’t really matter, it’s not the present that matters, not really, Bruce has more money than the total wealth of over 30 countries: he could buy a good present. It’s the fact that he’s known Clark for so long, long enough for two of his birthdays to pass, and he still doesn’t know what he would want, the first time, Clark had told him to donate to a charity, the second, he’d asked for help with his mother’s mortgage. Bruce wonders if it’s physically impossible for Clark to ask for things he wants, for himself, and then he realises he shouldn’t have to ask if Bruce already knew.

“You don’t have to get me anything, Bruce,” Clark says softly.

Bruce looks away, Clark has a tendency to be so emotionally intense, and sincere, even when he didn’t have to be, and it might just be the brilliant, unearthly blue of his eyes, but so much of what he says holds gravitas in any conversation, Bruce just has to look away, on risk of getting swept up in them.

“I’ve known you for a decade,” Bruce says, simply and honestly, “We have known each other for longer than Dick has been Nightwing, and the Justice League has existed, and longer than Damian has even been alive and I still don’t know what you want for your birthday. Not your mother, not Cancer Research, you.”

Clark, infuriatingly, just shrugs, “There’s nothing attainable I want.”

“Nothing?”

“Nothing.”

It’s not a hesitation, per se, because Clark’s Kryptonian biology doesn’t really allow for it. It’s a tiny, so very imperceptible pause, like a minuscule fermata over a hemidemisemiquaver, and Bruce knows that he’s on a very short list of people who could identify it, and even so, he’s half-sure he imagined it, but it’s there.

Bruce just looks at him, and Clark knows he’s been caught out, though he doesn’t admit it.

“Not like Superman to lie,” Bruce comments lightly. If Clark wants to tell him, he’ll tell him.

“Wasn’t lying,” Clark mutters, and this time, it’s him breaking eye contact, suddenly finding the Batmobile fascinating. In all honesty, it is a pretty fascinating car.

He knows before he said it that he’s pushing too far, because that’s what he does, as Batman, as Bruce Wayne, he pushes and pushes until he gets what he wants, but it’s out: “Clark.”

The last of Clark’s lighthearted demeanour slips away into something more... regretful.

“You’re my best friend, Bruce, and I tend not to keep secrets but just... drop it, okay?”

Bruce nods and turns back to his crime stats and pretends to not notice Clark leave, or the hand he presses to Bruce’s shoulder. Forgiven.

Bruce knows not to push, he knows that he should drop it, he knows and yet he still calls Lois Lane. 

“What does Clark Kent want most in this world?” 

Lois hesitates over the line, “Who are you?”

“A friend.”

“From his... night job?”

"Yes. It’s for his birthday.”

Lois makes a noise that’s neither resigned nor annoyed, but Bruce can’t help but sense both. “In that case, you may want to alter your question.” The end-call signal echoes around the room.

Bruce revises the question and gives himself three possibilities:

1. What does Superman want most in this world? 

Though Bruce dispels that almost immediately. If he wanted to give Superman a present, he would have approached him as Brucie Wayne and made it a public ordeal and by the end of it, Clark would have inevitably been forced to write an article along the lines of ‘Does Superman deserve a birthday present if he doesn’t have a birthday?’, and Clark tries to keep neutral when he writes about Superman, but Bruce is pretty sure a meta introspective would have put him in one of those moods where he’ll write a note saying he’ll be gone for an indeterminate amount of time and he promises to make up for it, and what it really means is that he’s testing how fast he can really go by flying between the planets. 

2. What does Clark Kent want most in this universe?

This also gets dispelled immediately, for if what he wants isn’t on earth, he could probably get it himself, with no help from Bruce. And he’d have it already.

3. Who does Clark Kent want most in this world?

That terrifies Bruce the most, and he doesn’t particularly want to delve into why. (Because he’s kept it under wraps for god knows how long, he can carry on until god knows when). But it’s also the one that makes the most sense.

He dials Lois again. 

“Who?” 

This time, he can feel her annoyance practically radiating off her, “Why don’t you ask him?”

“How well do you know him?” Bruce says, in a voice far too snarky to someone who he’s come to for advice.

“Ask him,” Lois says, and hangs up again, though Bruce is pretty sure that he deserved that.

Bruce tips back in his chair, tilts his head towards the ceiling and calls out, “Clark,” and waits.

He doesn’t take very long, he never does, once, a few years ago, he’d told him that he always listens to the heartbeats of people he cares about, his mother, Lois, him, and Bruce had felt such pure wonder and care at being on such a short list, the feeling to lean in and kiss that sheepish smile off his face was stronger than it had any right to be, and he’d almost acted on it, but Clark had heard an earthquake and they’d never mentioned it. After the earthquake, though, Clark had left for his planetary adventures and Bruce found himself holed up in the Cave those days he was gone.

“I thought I told you to drop it.”

“And you came here anyway.”

Clark reassumes his earlier position, and Bruce takes that as permission to talk.

“I asked Lois,” Clark frowns and his jaw clenches, “and she said I had been asking the wrong question.”

Before he asks, he knows it’s a bad idea, he knows that if Clark says someone, he might not be able to handle it, he knows it’s stupid and foolish, but that doesn’t stop him from asking, “Who do you want most in this world, Clark?”

A million different expressions fall over Clark’s face, and Bruce just about barely catches one, the one he uses when a battle is going incredibly poorly and he has to do something objectionable, when he thinks he’s about to die and he’s desperately trying not to show how terrified he is. 

That’s when he kisses Bruce, fast and chaste. Bruce blinks at him once, all the pieces falling together, before he tugs on the back of his neck and kisses him again and again and again.

[watchtower-feed]

All in Your Head (Part 2)

SSA Main ✧ Batman ✧ 1 ✧ 2 ✧ 3 ✧ 4 ✧ 5

           You held your breath as the dream finally made sense. It wasn't your dream. It was your soulmate's nightmare.

           "Y-you’re... Bruce Wayne."

     You’re in the Watchtower again when Bruce shows up through the zeta tube. He takes one quick look at the place and quickly changes the environment to a seaside shore in a tropical island. You stare up at the starry skyline and count a few shooting stars.

     You smirk and a cocktail materializes in Bruce’s hand. “You look tired.” He grunts in response before taking the whole drink in one go. He changed out of his bat suit and into a pair of bright blue board shorts. “More tired than normal.”

     Bruce stands next to you and stares straight at the horizon where the night sky and the dark ocean meet. The two of you stare out in silence as you listen to the waves softly reaching the sand. You can hear Bruce try to even his breathing with every crash and you already know something is gravely wrong.

     “It’s Wonder Woman,” he finally says. You turn to him but his eyes don’t meet yours, still staring straight ahead. “She’s missing.”

     Your eyes widen. “Someone like her doesn’t just go missing, Bruce,” you blurt out immediately.

     He shuts his eyes and rubs his eyelid with his fingers. “I know.”

     Bruce turned away from the horizon, donning his suit back on. When you turn around, you’re back in the Watchtower, in the main hall with the large meeting table set up. The rest of the League is sitting around in mid-action as if time had stopped. “After we saved Jason’s soulmate, Wonder Woman returned to her quarters early and skipped the mission debriefing.” You follow behind Bruce as he takes up his seat at the table.

     Just as quickly, everyone is moving again.

     “That’s the third one this month,” Aquaman says while addressing everyone at the table. He holds out the fingers in his hand, “Physical empathy, tracker, and timer.”

     “And those are just the ones we know of,” Hawkgirl responds with her arms crossed. “We should assume he’s gotten hold of other soulmate links as well.”

     “Collecting one of each link,” adds Martian Manhunter.

     “But it’s not just anyone’s link,” Green Arrow speaks up. “Think about it. He could easily take any civilian’s link under our radar but he’s targeting League members.” 

     “He’s targeting superhero soulmates,” supplies Red Arrow.

     You’re surprised when Batman speaks up, almost forgetting that he’s actively replaying the debriefing so he can analyze all of the information again. “The Red Hood doesn’t have powers.”

     Black Canary responds to him, “But Jason came back from the dead. He’s special in that regard.”

     “For now, it’s safer to assume, meta, human, or alien, we are all targets,” says Superman.

     Red Arrow quickly interjects, “There are still other questions we need to answer like why is he doing this and how.“

     Black Canary pulls up a holographic feed of Black Mask and projects it in front of everyone. “We couldn’t get any new information from Black Mask. Just that Luthor’s paying anyone who’ll bring him a hero’s soulmate.” 

     She takes a breath as the video plays. They all watch as Batman speaks to him in the video. She closes it once it’s done. “According to him, Lex Luthor is also offering his services to anyone who wants to get rid of their links. Black Mask had a physical link.”

     “Superman, do you know how Luthor erased your link?” Martian Manhunter asked.

      You look at Superman as he stares down at the table. Your voice quickly stops the recollection, “Poor Clark. This must be so hard on him.”

      Bruce wonders if he should tell you about Black Mask killing his soulmate right after the link was erased. Before it would come up in his subconscious, he quickly starts up the meeting again.

      Superman looks up and speaks with one palm extending out to the table, “I asked her but she said she was unconscious the whole time. She only realized her link was gone when we were back here at the tower.”

     A moment of silence circulated around the table as the League members pondered on their own thoughts. You almost think that time has stopped again but you can see the crease around Bruce’s mouth tensing as each second goes by.

     It was Captain Marvel who breaks the silence, “Dr. Fate, Zatanna, do you have any idea how Luthor could be doing this?” The people around the table looked at Captain Marvel with raised brows. “I mean, the soulmate link is closer to magic than science, and isn’t that your specialty?”

     “Hmm,” says Zatanna, “It’s not really my kind of magic. I’m guessing it’s not like yours either. The legend of soulmates has always been tied to older magic. Ancient.”

     Everyone at the table slowly turns to Dr. Fate who has his hands folded on the table and his eyes still fixed at Zatanna.

     “Why isn’t he answering,” you whisper. 

     Bruce grits his teeth and the rest of the table suddenly disperses into the air. “Exactly my thought.”

      “What?” you speak out, “What happened then?”

      “Something sent off the alarms in the Watchtower. It was coming from Wonder Woman’s room,” Bruce takes off his scowl as he stands up and faces you, “when we got there, she was gone.” Bruce crosses his arms and leans on the table. He looks down, thinking, “No break-in. No struggle.”

     “As if she just banished?” Bruce nods. “But Wonder Woman can’t teleport right. Did she fly out? Can she even survive in space?”

     “She can,” he smiles at you, amused. “But her windows didn’t open.”

     “This can’t be good.”

     “Hn. You’re telling me.” Suddenly both the watchtower and the tropical beach disperses, surrounding you and Bruce with nothing but darkness. “Luthor’s kidnapping soulmates, taking away their links, and we don’t know how or why he’s doing it. Dr. Fate obviously knows something but he’s not telling the League. Now every League member is looking out for their soulmates, making sure they’re safe, while Wonder Woman just vanishes into thin air. Worst of all, I can’t get any kind of information on the Fate Sisters who are responsible for these links and who might have all the answers we’re looking for. But they’re not talking to anyone who’s either a hero or a villain.” 

     Those are the most words Bruce has ever strung together in one long speech. His frustration has finally reached its peak and it’s affecting his whole composure. Missing a central figure in the team in the middle of this crisis is one thing but having every member dispersed on their own personal mission is another blow.

      But even you can feel the extra burden weighing on Bruce is due to the fact that you could be Luthor’s next target. That’s why he’s here. That’s why he showed you how the team reacted.

     No one knows about your link with Bruce. Neither of you even knew you had it until a few months ago. The subconscious link is one of the, if not the most, private links there is. Only the two of you know you have it.

     You reach out and hold Bruce’s face in your hands. He holds onto them and looks back at you. He looks so tired and you wish he didn’t have to go. “I’m not going anywhere so you go and save her.” 

✧ 1 ✧ 2 ✧ 3 ✧ 4 ✧ 5

[ragingbookdragon]

A League Of Her Own

A Wondersis One-Shot

Word Count: 1.4K Warnings: None

Author's Note: I guess I now have to put a "Wonderfamily" portion in my DC Masterlist! Enjoy! -Thorne

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

“And this! Dear sister! Is where my team and I meet to save the world!”

Her eyes were wide with wonder and awe, gazing around the room as she breathed, “Diana, you save the world here? Every day?”

Diana shrugged. “It is mostly every day. We typically arrive to the Watchtower when one of us has a mission.” She grinned. “It is usually Batman who calls us.”

Her head swiveled. “Batman? Is he here?” She smiled, taking Diana’s hands. “Oh, I so wish to meet all your friends! The Flash and Green Lantern and Superman and—”

“Peace, (Y/N),” Diana giggled. “I shall introduce you to them all.”

(Y/N)’s smile only widened. “You cannot blame me for being so excited sister. You come home and tell me stories of your adventures and it is all I can do to be—” she cut herself off with a gasp, pointing to something in the corner. “WHAT IS THAT!”

Her sister merely watched bemusedly as (Y/N) sped over to the machine, poking and prodding it. “That is an ice cream machine.”

“How does it work?” she questioned, and Diana walked to her side, grabbing a cup from the side before putting it under the nozzle.

“Like this.” She pulled the lever and couldn’t help but laugh as (Y/N)’s eyes widened, head cocking sideways as she watched the frozen treat swirl in the cup.

“Amazing,” she breathed, and Diana handed her the cup along with a spoon.

“This is chocolate ice-cream. Be careful not to—”

(Y/N) stuck a giant spoonful in her mouth, eyes widening as she blurted. “Iss o old!”

“Sister,” Diana sighed with amusement. “I tried to warn you.”

“Old—old—old,” she whined, snapping her mouth shut, and her expression morphed into joy as she swallowed. (Y/N) shoved the cup in her sister’s face. “This is fantastic! Who created this? I must congratulate them!”

Diana fell to pieces in laughter, her sister puffing her cheeks. “Why are you laughing at me, Diana! I am being completely serious!”

“I know you are, but the inventor is…no longer alive.”

(Y/N)’s lips pulled downwards. “How sad!” she stuck the spoon back in her mouth, holding out her hand. “Ow e ore!” Diana grinned and took her hand, leading her around.

***

Some twenty minutes later, the two women were walking down the hall when (Y/N) suddenly stopped, unbeknownst to Diana, who kept talking. “You would never know the Watchtower was up here. We have the ability to—(Y/N)?”

She turned, glancing at her sister who was staring out one of the bigger windows, eyes big and round with awe, mouth open slightly; her hands were pressed tight to her stomach. “Sister?” Diana worried, walking back. “Is everything alright?”

(Y/N) glanced at her, ushed tears in her vision. “The world…it is…beautiful.”

Diana’s face eased from concern to warmth as she wrapped her arms around (Y/N), resting her head on her sister’s shoulder. “It is.”

“I never would have believed I would be able to see it in its entirety like this. I am overcome with such emotion.”

“It is love.”

(Y/N) nodded. “Yes. It is.” She reached up and wiped her eyes. “I also have an urge to paint this wondrous masterpiece.”

Diana laughed. “I do not know if the Watchtower could hold the beauty your painting would produce.”

“You flatter me, sister.”

“Nonsense, I speak the truth.” She pulled away, glancing down the hall. “If you will excuse me for just a moment. I need to use the restroom.”

“Of course,” she nodded. “I will wait here for you.”

(Y/N) watched Diana walk off before turning back to the window, stepping up to it; she raised a hand and rested the tips of her fingers on the glass, feeling the chill on her skin. It was absolutely beautiful, the flow of the clouds against the bright blue water, along the green and tan of the lands. Her fingers itched to paint. To create. To weave and design tapestries that would remind her of this moment. All of it.

Someone’s arm fitted around her waist. “Hey Wonder Woman, you look absolutely beautiful in this light.”

She turned her head, seeing a brown-haired man with caramel eyes gazing at her. “Who are you?”

He blinked, eyes widening as he said, “You’re not Wonder Woman. Who are you?”

“My sister and I are two completely different women.” (Y/N) pulled from his grip. “But I asked you first. Speak or I shall drag the truth from you.”

“Is that a promise?” he flirted. “Because I totally have a thing for—NGH!”

His response was cut off by (Y/N) who yanked him forward by the arm and shoved him up against the window, pinning his arms behind him.

“Answer my question!” she shouted, shoving his arms up until he let out a grunt and raised on his toes to keep from feeling the pain.

“Hey! Easy! I need those arms!”

“You will need more than arms if you do not tell me who you are!”

“Hal Jordan!” he shouted. “I’m Green Lantern!”

(Y/N)’s eyes narrowed. “We shall wait for Diana to return to confirm that truth.”

“I’m telling you the truth!”

“And we shall see.”

Footsteps sounded from down the hall and she glanced over, seeing Diana coming down, a man in red and another in blue following.

“Sister!” she called out. “I have apprehended this man! He claims to be the Green Lantern!”

Diana sighed, dragging a hand down her face. “(Y/N)…Hal is.”

She looked at Diana, then to Hal, then back to Diana. “Truly? Him? He looks so…plain though?”

“Don’t sound so disappointed,” he muttered, cheek still smushed up against the glass; he glanced at the man in red. “Hey Barry.”

The man, Barry, snickered. “Having fun, Hal?”

“Oh, you know, this is just another Tuesday night for me.” He wiggled his fingers. “Is that your breastplate, pretty woman? It’s awfully cold. I’d be happy to warm it up for you.”

(Y/N) scowled, stepping away from his hands. “You are absolutely disgusting. Diana you cannot possibly work with such a lecher.”

Diana giggled at Hal’s outcry of offense. “You get used to him, sister.” She waved. “Now please, let him go. You’ll break the poor man’s arms.”

She did as Diana commanded, letting him go and Hal sunk back to the floor, shaking out his arms. “Damn, you’ve got a strong grip, pretty woman.”

“My name is not ‘pretty woman’,” she griped. “I am Princess (Y/N) of Themyscira.”

Hal grinned at her. “Pleasure you meet you, Princess.”

(Y/N)’s lip curled, and she turned her attention to Diana. “Are all men like this?”

“Thankfully, no,” her sister said, placing hands on both Barry and the man in blue’s backs. “May I introduce Barry Allen the Flash and Clark Kent, who is Superman.”

(Y/N)’s disgust fell away to happiness as she stepped up and hugged them both. “It is my honor to meet you both! Diana has talked about all of you in great detail.”

“Has she talked about me?” Hal questioned and she turned her head.

“No.”

“Darn shame. I’m a great conversation topic.”

She looked at Diana. “Is he always this arrogant?”

“No,” she shrugged. “Sometimes he is asleep.”

The sisters laughed whilst Hal pouted, and Barry asked, “Princess (Y/N), would you like to come to the cafeteria and eat some lunch?”

She smiled. “You may call me (Y/N), Barry. But yes, I would like to. That is, if Diana is coming too?”

“I would sister, but Clark was coming to get me for a meeting with Batman.” Diana excused, turning to Superman who nodded.

“We’re discussing some changes to the Watchtower communicators,” he said and (Y/N) merely smiled.

“I understand. We shall meet up later then.” Her eyes drifted to Barry’s. “Are you going with them?”

“Nope,” he said, popping his bottom lip. “Bruce said it was okay for me to skip out. He held out his arm. “May I escort you?”

Laughing, she looped her arm with his. “You may.” As she passed Hal, she held out her free arm. “Are you coming?”

He glanced at her. “I thought you didn’t like me?”

“It is too early to decide such a thing. Do I think you are a lecher? Absolutely. But that is merely my first opinion.” (Y/N) smiled. “I believe you will change it.”

Hal cracked a grin and looped his arm with hers. “See, if you really wanna change it, you should let me take you flying.”

“Oh? Like in a jet? Diana has one,” she chirped, letting the two men lead her down the hall.

“Of course in a jet. See there’s this place in Coast City—”