#batfam supes au

[angstandhappiness]

BAH HAH HAH

civilian bruce got yeeted off one of the balconies of his own company and the really nice metropolis guy caught him before his kids could get there <3

bruce and clark are friends but he doesnt know clark is superman yet- the kids fucking know clark is trying his hardest to earn their dad's affection and nOT ON THEIR WATCH- THAT COUNTRY BOY'S GOTTA WORK FOR IT

[that1emowitch]

here me out

AU where instead of doing the whole red hood thing, jason just stays with the all caste. he finally meets the batfam when the justice league is facing a threat and need the help of the all caste. could be pretty good angst, since it directly disproves every shitty thing bruce said about jay, and bruce realises that his son was alive like way later than in canon

also it's a crime that jayessence basically doesn't exist, there are 11 fics on ao3. i want jayessence and competent!jason pls

That'll be so interesting, ur right! I'm definitely gonna go read RHATO issues again so I refresh my memory (if there r any other issues with the all-caste story PLEASE lmk cuz i have a very tumultuous love/hate relationship with RHATO lol)

I think Jason would've been happier, with the All-Caste. Talia would've visited him when she could (let's make her a mom not a pedo), Ducra would've trained him in every single war form she knew, putting hum on a path to surpass even her

Essence and Jay would've been her top students (if u don't mind, could u pls give me a lil recap on what Essence's story is? I kinda got confused in that part. Was she banished? She's one of the Untitled, technically, is she not? I don't rmbr 😭)

But basically, Jayessence! I've never read a fic about it or written one, but I've always thought it was an interesting dynamic! It'd be fun to try writing it out. Maybe I'll make a happier AU, where Essence and Jason train together under Ducra, both of them named her heirs. That kinda makes them play-fight with each other which ends up with them kissing. Oh god Jason would be so smitten by her, he'd pretend to be annoyed but he knows she's a goddess, knows she could kill him in a blink, knows his blade could kill her—but they both choose to love. AAHHABSBSHS I'm dying

Then the Untitled attack.

I love Ducra so much, she's their BAMF Granny, so let's not kill her. Maybe instead, she is kidnapped, in hopes of getting Jason and Essence to surrender (They know these two could destroy them). And at the same time, the Untitled are also attacking JLA outposts, for a reason I'll come up with later. Bruce remembers, back when he trained under the League, Ra's mentioning evil beings of this type, immortal and unstoppable by all but the All-Caste. Hence they seek their help.

And with Ducra gone, Jason and Essence are in charge, and they have to meet with the JLA—with Batman, Superman, and WW, specifically.

Jason makes sure to cover himself completely. Puts white nose generators in his mask and chest plate to ward off Supes. Makes sure to double, triple check his voice modulator. He cannot risk them finding out his true identity.

Not when he's finally recovering from his past as Robin.

I'm imaging they work together for a while, with everyone noticing the Red Hood (would he still be called Red Hood, if he never returned to Gotham? Maybe? Maybe he was reclaiming it, as a way to heal himself instead of for getting revenge) basically everyone notices RH being antsy around Batman. The amount of effort he puts into concealing his identity, unlike the other members of All-Caste. His name being Joker’s old name, something deeply meaningful to Gothamites.

Batman thinks RH is a reformed Gotham villain, who he's dealt with before. He thinks that's why RH doesn't ever face him, doesn't look him in the eye. He feels bad for him, but is strangely proud (just feel like mentioning, the thing about Batman is, he cares SO MUCH. About everyone. He feels sorrow when they lose themselves to their insanity, feels guilt over it. And he feels pride when they bounce back, grow better, like Harley Quinn did.) Like, this man, this absolute machine, clearly well honed and trained, who seems more than capable of taking on the entire Justice League by himself. Clearly he has experience.

Essence helps Jason through it. Soothes him at night when he has panic attacks, because his Dad is two rooms away from him. Helps him cope. Helps him calm down.

Then one day in some battle, one of the Untitled fatally injures Jason, and Batman is the only one nearby. Batman takes a hasty decision, rips Jason's mask off to save him.

And freezes.

That... that's his son. He looks older, more scarred, but thats... that's his SON!

(ALSO another addition: when they find Ducra she's like "uncuff me, and I'll show you just who Essence and Jason learnt from" BAMF!DUCRA FOR LIFEE)

Sorry for the rambling I just kept getting ideas and I kept writing lol

I promise I'll write this as a proper story as soon as I can, thanks so much for the ask! As usual, lmk in the comments if you'd like me to tag u in updates, also feel free to share any ideas u have! I'm just writing what yall want to read that makes me happy hehe

[butcherlarry]

Weekly Fic Recs 56

Another week, another list! I also had another ask, but this time for sad Superbat.

Sad Superbat fic rec list

I normally don't do sad because I a simple woman who loves them some happy endings, but there were a few I recced. Check them out if you're interested!

But now, on to the rest of the list!

left behind by TheResurrectionist - Superbat, complete. Luthor wants an audience with the Justice League, but has to go through Bruce Wayne to do so. For some reason, Bruce's boyfriend, Clark Kent is there during this process. So much shenanigans and inside jokes ensue.

Werewolves Do Not Make Good Empty Nesters by dragonpyre - Batfam, wip. Werewolf, and Tim and Jason join the family early AU! Dick moved out and Bruce is experiencing empty nest syndrome :( Luckily, he found these two abandoned pups to make his nest less empty :)

Lessons Learned by justforthefanfiction - Cloisbat (is that a ship name?), wip. Batman brakes into the Kent's house to talk to Lois about a case. He catches them in a compromising position. Sexy times ensuee

A kindred bond by Nyszu - Superbat, wip. An update to the fic where Bruce gets kidnapped by evil!Supes, but is rescued by his Superman! A breakout at Arkham occurs, and Bruce goes to deal with it.

Get Low by leakypaintpen - Superbat, complete. Bruce spars with Clark after he returns from Warworld and has an "oh no he's hot AND competent" moment.

mission parameters by shipyrds - Superbat, complete. A reread for me! Bruce and Clark have to fake being married for a mission :)

tell all the truth (but tell it slant) by susiecarter - Superbat, complete. Another reread for me! Bruce and Clark start a fake relationship to explain why they are together all the time and to get the media off their back. Feelings and a lack of communication results in much shenanigans :) :) :) :)

Patchwork Pod by Ktkat9 - Superbat and Batfam, wip. More of the mer Bruce fic! Tim has gotten himself in quite the situation!

One day, fate knocked on the door by Speechless_since_1998 - Batfam, complete. Little Timmy travels to Bludhaven to convince Dick to be Robin again. He has a power point and everything! Dick has other concerns, like how this small child traveled to Bludhaven to give a presentation on why he should be Robin again. And why this small child knows he used to be Robin. Shenanigans ensue.

is it my fault? (we've been missing each other) by quidhitch - Batfam, complete. Bruce and Jason bonding times, before and after Jason's death.

The Only by pasdecoeur - Superbat, complete. Someone asked for sad Superbat fic recs, and this one one of the fics I had on the list. The tag the author has is correct, Superbat is fundamentally a tragedy.

Exit Strategy by smilebackwards - Batfam, complete. Tim prepares to leave the Batfam, because the obviously don't need him around anymore (obviously). Unfortunately for him, the rest of the family has a problem with this. Also featuring: bonding time with Damian.

DAMIAN WAYNE GOES TO THERAPY series by orpheusaki - Batfam, stories complete, but series is not. What the title says, Damian goes to therapy. Each story is him bonding with a member of the family, one story about him and Tim, and the other about him and Jason.

Happy Reading!

[laughterbynight]

Possibly unpopular opinions incoming which means post it before bed, natch.

I actually think Tim in a trio would be cute. I don’t trust DC not to make it weird of course but as far as headcanons go I could see him trying that out for a bit. One partner is of course Kon. DC can fight it all they want but I do think someday (maybe when I’m 70) Tim and Kon will end up canon.

Anyway, temporary trio wise I think Tim, Kon, and maybe a new character. I have no issue with Bernard but I always feel like DC shoved him in there to cut off timkon talk so I have a hard time seeing him as anything permanent y’know? But then again that would work as a transition into timkon when the trio ends. Amicably!! I’m so not here for drama.

I’d like to see a woman in there maybe, for some balance. No not Steph. I know some fans are still really married to the idea of them but the whole manic pixie dreamgirl thing has never been my jam personally. That’s why I’m generally attracted to the batfam. I like stoics. Yes, Dick isn’t my fave either (drawing all kinds of targets on myself tonight).

I feel like figuring out sexuality is so…basic and static in comics. Like yeah they talk about it being a journey of discovery but we don’t really *see* that, they just say it.

I think I’ve seen Bart as a popular third. Idk if that’s in line with him as a character at all since I’m less familiar with him but I’m open to it. I do kinda like the idea of an Amazon about their age. I know the supe/bat/amazon thing is common ground but hey it works really good. I can’t argue with it. I like reading superwonderbat too. Sue me.

If we wanna shake things up it would be interesting if it was a male Amazon. I mean we know men aren’t allowed to stay there so they must go somewhere. I think it would be interesting to see a male character from a culture where women are in control and that’s considered normal. No hate about it just, yeah that’s how it is here. I get bored of the sausage club that is the batfamily but I’ll take it if that means an interesting third.

sidebar: I really wish Cass was in more stories and we could have more girldad Bruce moments. I feel like DC tries to do the “girlpower” thing by putting all the girls on teams together and honest to god I do not care. I wanna see Batman and his kick ass daughter and her brothers, together.

It’s almost a shame Cass was adopted bc she would fit as a good third but of course we can’t do that for obvious reasons. Maybe in an AU, but I’d be more sad if she didn’t have batdad instead.

Anyone have any ideas about a third? I’m curious. Keeping in mind they'd need to get along with Tim and Kon on some level obvs or why would any of them bother.

Edit: How do we feel about Connor? I realized the rep for Ace characters is abysmal and I think Tim and Kon would be really sweet and understanding compared to like, idk a lot of other characters in general. Tbh I think of Tim as demi but idk if DC can handle that Bi was hard enough for them. But then I think I’d want them to stay a trio too. Idk y’all is Connor around their ages I seriously can’t keep up with how DC rearranges timelines. I DO know it would probably cause Bruce and Ollie to get catty with each other around the holidays and that’s always a bonus in my book.

So many ideassssss

edit edit: wait that’s two Connors. I shouldn’t do this at 1am. That would also be funny tho.

[puppetmaster13u]

Actually, also thinking of Meat Marionette au (combo of this au & the possessed doll au by @phoenixcatch7) how would that work either?

Because they have both their human bodies and the meat puppets. Near indestructible bodies.

I am slowly rotating a what if oneshot or so of my What's Outside Au of like, Injustice or Justice Lords esque timeline. Like, Clark is one of the only ones who knows the batclan since they're cryptids, and the first meeting was entirely accidental. But Batman and his brood aren't a part of the League, even if the Wayne Enterprises do start help funding it and is still behind the Watchtower. So how would it work? How would things change, when Bruce is already more morally gray and no one knows for sure if the Bats even exist out of Gotham?

[mamawasatesttube]

*points finger* FELLOW HIS DARK MATERIALS READER. *spins away* (but really, this thing rewired my brain and gave me a permanent "but what if daemon au?" brainrot but I see it so rarely in other fandom spaces so seeing it in the wild is kind of a miracle?) Anyway, about that daemons brainrot - any thoughts about core four's daemons (or batfam or supes or anyone really)?

ive been thinking about this for hours and oh man. i really can't decide too clearly!!! i can see so many options so many ways...

for core four though i THINK it's tim with some kind of corvid (perhaps a rook or a raven), bart with a bunny (fluffy, fast, big feet), cassie with an eagle or perhaps a falcon, and kon with a wolfdog. definitely open to discussion though!

[sunsoaked-living-blog]

Y’all I need some help with a Batfam/JL fanfic that I read years ago that I’d love to reread again.

(If I recall correctly) In this AU, Bruce is just the CEO of Wayne Enterprises (and I think he may have been Batman for a short while until he took in Dick and retired) and he takes a meeting with Superman (about funding for the JL). Supes and B talk back and forth, and eventually come to a settlement.

The part I remember the clearest was that Supes flew out the window of WE and Bruce’s kids were there in the office and were talking with him about it (Clark was still listening in), and Bruce said Clark’s name (I think under his breath?), revealing he knew Superman’s secret ID, which surprised Clark so much he momentarily falls from the sky (confirming the ID for Bruce).

Anyone remember the name of this fic??? Please help a sista out.

[ao3feed-superbat]

Reverse - Restart - Resume

by redlightofkryptonite (redlightofdawn)

Origin Swap AU Between the Bats and the Supes Written for the Batfam Reverse Big Bang, for the prompt of Tim & Kon swapping origins.

***

Words: 3018, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: DCU, Superman - All Media Types, Batman - All Media Types

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M, Other

Characters: Tim Drake, Kon-El | Conner Kent, Lana Lang, Lex Luthor, Bruce Wayne

Relationships: Tim Drake/Kon-El | Conner Kent, Clark Kent/Bruce Wayne

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - Reserved Origins, Clark Kent is Power Man, Bruce Wayne is The Bat, Clark Kent is Human, Bruce Wayne is Something Else, As is Tim Drake, Conner Kent is human and Done, For a given value of human, Idiots in Love, POV Alternating, past Lex Luthor/Clark Kent/Lana Lang, Getting Together

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/48637630

[lilith-vodkaaunt-of-demons]

Even if you ignore the whole idea of the Ghost King AU thing, if we assume the Danny gets as powerful as Plasmius, or Dan, that would put Danny on the level of being a Universal Level Threat. The amount of "Pulling shit out of your ass" he can do with powers is as insane as it is infinite.

It starts getting to Qanon Conspiracy levels of ridiculous as his repitoire of powers grows larger and larger.

"He's got ice breath, flight, super strength, Heat Vision (although it's oddly green, not red,) super speed, super senses, he claims he's from Small Town Middle America, he's got Black hair and Blue eyes! He's obviously another clone of Clark!" Someone claims.

"But he can phase through objects, turn invisible, transform and manipulate his shape, that's all Martian abilities, not super man. Obviously he's got martian DNA in him." Another rebuttals.

"What about his energy blasts? And his force fields? Energy manipulation too, and it's all GREEN! Obviously he has something to do with the Green Lanterns." Yet another speculates.

So what? What's it all mean? Are you really trying to say that like...Who, Lex Luthor or something, tried to make another clone of Supes, but just like, decided to throw some Martian DNA in for shits and giggles, and somehow that clone got free and found a Green Latern Ring, the only one that can either be hidden while in use, or doesn't need to be worn to be used, and then just...What, decided to apply as a fucking MECHANIC to the Justice League Watchtower? Is that what you're going with?" Says one, frankly exhausted and exasperated Watchtower worker who just nutted up and asked Danny when the whole thing kicked off, and is waiting to see how long it takes someone, ANYONE else to do the same thing, since Danny didn't even try to hide it.

Danny even admitted to secretly listening in on some of the conversations about peoples theories on his supposed origins. Apparently the closest anyone's ever gotten was a maintenance crew guy on the Orbital Adjustment Floor. Some guy named Doug L. Forcett had a pretty good guess. Danny said he got like, 92% of it right, but no one believed him.

Also, wrapping back around the Last Resort thing. I feel like Danny wouldn't even be a Last Resort. Because again, assuming Danny, all grown up, is just as powerful as Dan, he could be a Universal Level Threat, and his only true weakness is Ecto-ranium, a rare mineral that...just causes some pain and turns off his ghost powers, and it has to be in contact with him to work.

Danny isn't the last resort of the Justice League gets knocked down, or even taken out. Danny isn't the last resort for when Brainiac, or Darkseid, or DoomsDay, or Lex get in a lucky shot and seems like they might when. The JL has dealt with that before, and they will again.

No, Bruce keeps Danny around as a last resort for the Justice League. In case the worst happens, and a member goes rogue. Maybe Superman comes in contact with Red or Black Kryptonite, or Wonder Woman gets tricked by Ares.

Sure, he helps out whenever he can, he's just that kind of guy, but that's the secret Batman won't even tell to the rest of the Batfam, not even Alfred. Danial Jack Fenton isn't the last resort against Villains. He's the last resort against the Justice League, should that ever be needed.

Short DPXDC Prompts #648

The League gets incredibly concerned that their main tech mechanic, Danny Fenton, has instances of his heart or breathing randomly stopping. His skin is cold as ice and his skin is deathly pale.

Danny didn’t realize that the League doesn’t look at hiring applications. If they did they would have seen that he put being a half ghost on his resume.

[ao3feed-timkon]

Reverse - Restart - Resume

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/xryQ6sw

by redlightofkryptonite (redlightofdawn)

Origin Swap AU Between the Bats and the Supes Written for the Batfam Reverse Big Bang, for the prompt of Tim & Kon swapping origins.

***

Words: 3018, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: DCU, Superman - All Media Types, Batman - All Media Types

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M, Other

Characters: Tim Drake, Kon-El | Conner Kent, Lana Lang, Lex Luthor, Bruce Wayne

Relationships: Tim Drake/Kon-El | Conner Kent, Clark Kent/Bruce Wayne

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - Reserved Origins, Clark Kent is Power Man, Bruce Wayne is The Bat, Clark Kent is Human, Bruce Wayne is Something Else, As is Tim Drake, Conner Kent is human and Done, For a given value of human, Idiots in Love, POV Alternating, past Lex Luthor/Clark Kent/Lana Lang, Getting Together

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/xryQ6sw

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

Reverse - Restart - Resume

by redlightofkryptonite (redlightofdawn)

Origin Swap AU Between the Bats and the Supes Written for the Batfam Reverse Big Bang, for the prompt of Tim & Kon swapping origins.

***

Words: 3018, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: DCU, Superman - All Media Types, Batman - All Media Types

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M, Other

Characters: Tim Drake, Kon-El | Conner Kent, Lana Lang, Lex Luthor, Bruce Wayne

Relationships: Tim Drake/Kon-El | Conner Kent, Clark Kent/Bruce Wayne

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - Reserved Origins, Clark Kent is Power Man, Bruce Wayne is The Bat, Clark Kent is Human, Bruce Wayne is Something Else, As is Tim Drake, Conner Kent is human and Done, For a given value of human, Idiots in Love, POV Alternating, past Lex Luthor/Clark Kent/Lana Lang, Getting Together

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/48637630

[punishandenslavesuckers]

Alternate universe where Kal-El’s baby pod comes down behind Wayne Manor. (ao3)

chapter 1 chapter 2  chapter 3 chapter 4

Wayne family problems always happen at 2AM.

Zatanna gets the call on her cell in Athens and it takes her a full minute to register the buzzing before she rolls over and paws her phone from the nightstand. Scraping her hair form her face, she squints at the name on the phone. Private line, proxy number. She checks the time and figures there’s still only one person who would call at 2AM her time.

“Bruce? Is that you?”

“He went public.”

She hangs up.

Thirty seconds later she drops onto Bruce Wayne’s kitchen island in Gotham, bare feet slapping the two-hundred grand black-marble countertop. Her hair crackles, a writhing nest of post-teleportation static and half-grounded etherium. Her eyes, she knows, have the fairy-light glow of a woman riding wild and uncontrollable forces dimension to dimension. Point of fact, that kind of chaos suits her and the static roar in her blood just now. Chaos suits her fine. She understands the appeal of it, standing there, lit up from the inside. Panic in her teeth.

Bruce looks at the tangled sorceress crouching half-dressed on his kitchen counter, he just says, calmly, “Do you need a bathrobe?”

She’s in shorts and a crop top. She hops off the counter, ignoring him. “Where’s Kal?”

“Metropolis.” He unmutes two mid-sized televisions mounted on the wall by the sink and another by the bar. One is Metropolis Daily, the other CNN. The scroll bar reads: super-human hero saves hundreds. “Suspension bridge collapse. He’s currently holding the bridge in place while everyone evacuates. He’s been there for three hours now. Every news network on the globe is re-casting the live coverage.”

“Metropolis. So he didn’t go far.”

“I wouldn’t say that.” Bruce has his laptop open on the counter and pulls up a dozen news articles in various languages, no photos except of what appear to be blurry phone camera stills. “This is the first time he’s slowed down enough to be caught on film, but based on his speed and eye-witness accounts, they’re linking him to series of similar interventions all over the world. Disaster interventions mostly. I think he’s been operating internationally until now. He’s doing exactly what I told him not to do.”

“What’s the damage?”

“So far? His face is all over global news.”

“My god. He’s not a wearing a mask?”

“No. As far as I can tell, he’s wearing some kind of uniform based on his family colors and house crest.”

“Are you kidding me?”

Bruce says nothing. So she looks at the footage.

“Holy shit, you’re not kidding. He’s wearing primary colors. Why does he have a cape? Why is it bright red? What the fuck?”

“Either habit or tactics. If the material is bulletproof like the material from his Robin uniform, then he might be using it to protect civilians.”

“How is he funding this? Did he access his trust?”

“No. He hasn’t accepted anything from me since…” He glances at her. “Since he left. I assume he’s found employment.”

“But not as Clark Wayne.”

“Not that I’ve found. But he knows how to forge documents as well as Alfred does. If he wants to, he can be anyone.”

“Where is he now?”

“Still under the Grandcross Bridge. Rescue and construction personnel are approaching now, but as far as I can tell he’s having no trouble holding position.”

“How is he holding the whole bridge? I don’t doubt he’s strong enough, but he’s too small to just –”

“The five of the suspension cables along the right side of the bridge seem to have snapped. The bridge was going lopsided, cars sliding into the river. He’s just leveling it out. You’re right though. It’s collapsing. He’s a single load-bearing point where there were five. The civil engineers are trying to get close enough to talk to him, I believe.”

“No lives are in danger?”

“No. But…”

“Breaking news,” says the television. “We’re cutting to a live feed from the crisis at the Metropolis Grandcross Bridge. Fire and rescue personnel have deployed a rescue drone to open communication with the meta-human currently holding up the remains of the now highly unstable Grandcross suspension bridge. Live momentarily.”

Alfred, from the kitchen door where he’s just arrived, says, “Bloody hell.”

On the television screen a slightly wobbling drone camera cuts a path toward the belly of the suspension bridge. In the feed, you can hear the whine of the little turbine motors as it zips through the dust toward a blue and red figure braced like Atlas beneath the bridge. The drone flits uncertainly for a moment, buffeted by wind and for a moment captures a turbulent image of Kal Wayne – changed remarkably in just two years, but also not, not at all changed, but different nonetheless – looking slightly to the left and blinking at the little drone.

He follows it with his eyes as the camera swings in a way to frame his face, zooming in. his eyes in the camera are… frighteningly blue, alien blue, almost colorless and iridescent. Zatana’s never seen him do that with his eyes and in that moment, staring into the camera, expression curious and faintly distracted, she thinks the world’s going to change. This is the face of things to come. Something shivers through her, an old primal kind of shudder, deeper than physical… archetypical and ancient. Like every ley line in the world just hummed.

On TV, a loud speaker crackles, barely loud enough to hear over the drone’s motor.

“This is Kathy Motomori of Metropolis Fire and Rescue.” Live captions scroll across the bottom of the screen. Kal shifts his shoulders slightly against the concrete above him, his palms spread flat against the stone. “Are you in danger, sir?”

He blinks. “Oh! No. I’m fine.” A pause. “Thanks!”

“Jesus,” says Zatana.

Bruce has one hand on the counter next to him and it becomes a fist instead. On screen Kal shakes dust from his hair and says, loudly, “Everyone is clear of the bridge now right? Do you need me to keep holding it up or should I let it go?”

There’s a momentary pause from the other side. “My engineers are saying the bridge won’t last even with your help. It’s going to come apart on top of you. We’re recommending you try to get clear. Can you do that without our aid? Do you need assistance? My people are willing to come in.”

“No, no! Don’t send anyone!” He shakes his head slightly and a single dark curl of hair gets free from his bangs, coiling against his brow. Zatana doesn’t know it right then, but that’s the image that’s going to go around the world. “I’m okay. I can get clear on my own.”

“Then good luck, son. Get out of there safe. Understood?”

“Understood, ma’am.”

The drone wobbles and withdraws, pulling back but continuing to zoom in on Kal as he glances up at the massive shelf of stone he’s bracing… then rolls up so he’s bracing his hands and feet against it, creating the optical illusion of being stuck to the bottom of the bridge, his cape flapping gently beneath him. Then, lightly, he pushes off and floats free beneath. The bridge holds, but in the feed the crack and groan of steel instantly fills the audio. The camera pulls back, zooming away as the bridge buckles and falls. Kal watches it for a moment. Then he notices the camera now watching him and looks, momentarily, flummoxed about the attention.

He decides on a kind of half-wave, half-salute kind of thing. Then he turns in midair and throws one arm forward as if into some kind of forward stoke and arcs with that familiar thoughtless momentum into the free air over the Metropolis River. Then the sound barrier breaks in the distance. The camera screen beholds nothing but empty sky.

“Welp,” says Zatana.

“Goodness,” says Alfred.

“…” says Bruce.

From the door, just behind Alfred, Dick Grayson – still in his pajamas, frazzled with bedhead, all of fifteen, dark-haired and thrilled – says, “Cool.”

 “The President official gave Superman the Medal of Freedom today for his actions during Hurricane Roger.”

Bruce says nothing.

“He’s ducking my tracer spells by the way.” Zatana takes a seat on the desk, moving Bruce’s files aside to make room. “I’ve tapped a few sources in the magical communities and a handful of them say they’re passingly familiar with someone matching Kal’s description but no one linked him to any of the traceable Superman events. Lois Lane did a pretty bang up job with the international angle. They’re saying Superman’s saved the lives of about five-hundred people and counting just this last year and that’s the incidents people have come forward with.”

Bruce says nothing.

“Bruce, I’m sure he’ll come back at some point and not for nothing, he is bulletproof and mostly magic proof.”

Bruce says, “Kal is an adult now. He can do as he likes.”

Zatana says, “Obviously, but he’s still your little brother. You’re allowed to worry.”

“His approach is reckless and dangerous and literally everything I warned him not to do.”

“He’s insanely popular, well-loved by everyone, and he hasn’t told a soul that he’s an alien. He just keeps insisting he’s nice city boy who want to help. A nice American city boy by golly-gee raised right here wherever here is I won’t commit but hell I’m sure just like you, boss. He’s really good at that. His blandish is excellent. Lookit me, folks, I’m just so adorable blue-eyed relatable and cute. I saved a puppy today. I played baseball with a bunch of kids in Bangladesh. There’s a hundred blogs dedicated to how cute my butt is in my weird uniform that is definitely armor, but no one is talking about it.”

“Just because he’s good at getting people to like him, doesn’t mean he’s safe.”

“Obviously not, but he’s doing the absolute best that he can with the option that he’s taken. He’s popular Bruce. You can get away with murder if you’re popular and there’s precedent for it. You have that Flash guy in Star City. That Green Arrow person. You… kind of… you’re pretty popular in Gotham for a dude everyone thinks is demonic sewer monster.”

“It’s Gotham,” says Bruce, like that explains it.

Zatana picks up her tea and sips.

“Look, Gotham loves two things: Its football team and Batman. Therefore, Batman gets away with a lot. Keeping that mind, Metropolis loves two things –”

“Being owned by a libertarian asshole and over-priced sushi?”

“No, Bruce – is that thing? Stop distracting me! They love being progressive and they love Superman. Okay? If Metropolis likes Superman than a good portion of the country follows. Daily Planet says they like him, then most of the internet says they like him. Metropolis may be owned by a libertarian douchebag, but even Lex Luthor knows to pretend to be progressive and likeable. His blandish is right up there with Kal’s.”

“Yes, there’s a comfort. Lex fucking Luthor talking to Kal-El.”

“Right, because Superman totally didn’t graffiti his pent-house office window last week with vague implications that Lex is a capitalist monster.”

Bruce smiles. Like, not with his mouth, but it’s there. Zatana can see it.

“See, and the beauty of it is Lex can try to take legal action but he won’t because it’s political suicide. Kal know what he’s doing. He’s smart and capable and has an IQ over one-forty and an interest in communications. He’s Metropolis’ favorite son right now. He’s America’s favorite son. You know how I can tell he’s going to be the biggest thing since sliced bread? He’s just a little bit brown and he openly spoke fluent Cantonese in front of cameras and people aren’t trying to nuke him out of the sky. That’s how I know he’s reached the adoration nadir necessary to survive the public. Okay?”

“You can stop trying to comfort me, Zatana. I know you have better things to do.”

“Better things to do than hang out in your mansion and eat your fancy toast?”

“How can toast be fancy?”

“I dunno, man, but you do it.”

“I’ve accepted that Kal is going to do as he likes. I don’t have to like it, but it’s how it is.”

“It’s been nearly a year since he came out as Superman.” Zatana taps a nail meaningfully against the side of her mug. “You could try to get in contact with him you know.”

Bruce says, “I figure he’ll do that himself.”

Zatana says, “Ugh. You’re both children.”

And Dick, who’s been hiding in the rafters in the dining room says, “So am I gonna get to meet him finally or what?”

“Get down from there. What did I tell you about –!”

 Six months later a giant albino mohawked dude on a space-faring motorcycle shows up in Metropolis.

Then he beats Superman within an inch of his new superheroing life.

Jimmy Olsen, armed with a smart phone camera and more balls than his resume would grant him, captures most of the carnage on a Facebook livesteam where the hulking alien tries to tear Metropolis’ golden boy limb from limb. In later interviews, Jimmy would admit that he and Superman have a rapport and most of why he stayed was simply because he couldn’t bring himself to leave while Big Blue was fighting for his life. Something, he was certain, Superman had never had to do before.

The world gets a first-hand look at intelligent non-terrestrial lifeforms as one tries to curb stop Superman’s skull open in the middle of Broadway Avenue. Then it gets to watch as said lifeform hurls him into the ground with enough force to break the sound barrier. They watch intelligent alien life rip Kal’s cape from his shoulders, watch it kick him in the ribs, try to strangle him, gouge his invincible blue eyes out and get their thumbs lasered off for their efforts. (Oh, yes, Superman has laser eyes. No one knew that. Now everyone knows that.)

Then the whole world gets to watch Superman do something like panic and beat this monster into a crater with the wreackage of its own motorcycle. Then they get to watch him grab and hurl this alien out of the stratosphere with enough power to splinter the ground beneath him like plaster and send the beast rocketing out of Earth’s atmo. Jimmy Olsen’s smart phone camera captures the moment of aftermath where Superman stands there, uniform torn, blood running from his nose and mouth, staring anxiously into the sky and breathing hard, breathing like his ribs are fractured. Jimmy Olsen’s smart phone camera transmits, live, the moment where Superman collapses to one knee, then collapses entirely and –

Jimmy Olsen, dropping his camera, crying, “Oh my god! Supes?! Superman, are you –?”

Before the feed cuts.

  “Look, I’m just saying he’s not that mad at you.”

Dick Grayson, eighteen, wearing a pair of sunglasses with his boots up on the spare chair next to him – he’s got an ice cream cone in one hand and he thinks the whole thing is kind of dumb.

Across from him: Superman in a blue button-up and jeans, blinking at him from behind a pair of un-convincing thick-rimmed glasses. He’s got an untouched basket of fires and a burger in front of him. It pleases Dick just a little bit to note that at eighteen he’s already about Kal-El’s height if not quiet his build. Not, mind you, that Superman has many options in body building and it’s sort of ridiculous to compare physiques when one of them (not him) can pick up a bus and throw it across the country.

The point: Kal doesn’t look very intimidating sitting in a burger joint with an anxious look on his face.

“It’s been almost three years.”

The July sun curves a scorching path into the mid-day sky. It’s pretty hot.

Dick adjusts his sunglasses and says, “Look, Kal. I get that you guys had some big falling out or whatever, but at the end of the day you’re both being huge assholes and should just talk to one another. Zatana says so. Alfred says so. I say so and I’m the guy who’s doing your old job so I feel like I have special permission to tell you to suck it up and stop being weird about it. You weren’t weird about talking to me and I expected you to be a lot weirder in person. So you have no excuse.”

Kal looks genuinely curious. “Why would you think I’d be weird in person?”

“I dunno. You’re so good in front of a camera I thought you might be a little strange when you turn off the whole All American Alien shtick. Any particular reason you try to come off like a home-grown suburbanite when you’re a Gotham kid?”

“Technically, I was raised internationally for most of my childhood, I’m an alien, and mid-western accents are practically un-detectible to anyone not looking for it?”

“Solid call. Solid call. Anyway, you’re not weird.”

Kal looks wry. “Thanks, I try. Look, Dick, I appreciate what you’re trying to say, but I’m not sure if you understand… the history with Bruce and me.”

“Says who? I’m great at understanding. I’ve also been living with Bruce for the better part of three years so, like, try me.”

“Well, first of all, I’m an alien that landed in his backyard when he was sixteen and he decided to adopt me.”

“Yes, he has impulse control problems in that area. I’ve noticed.”

“My childhood was weird.”

“I grew up in the circus and then signed on to be Boy Wonder Two Point Oh. My childhood was also weird. What is it you’re worried I won’t understand?”

“I don’t know… so much of how I was raised was based around this… It’s weird. I am bulletproof. Literally, I’m one of the toughest living things on the planet, but my whole childhood was a lot of fear and hyper-vigilant measures to make sure I was safe. Now, I’m just… it’s like a threw all that away. I feel like a bastard sometimes. Ungrateful I guess? But I don’t regret it. Not… not at all. Not even a little bit and I feel like that’s the part that’s going to make it impossible to talk about.”

“You know how stupidly noble that sounds right? You’re like an afterschool special.”

“Grayson,” he says in this tone that has this low sub-tonal quality that literally makes the air shiver.

“Okay, so you’re afraid you’ll have to defend your decisions to him and he’s going to be judgmental and disapproving, basically? Because, that’s kind of what dads are there for.”

“He’s not my dad.”

“Right.”

Kal looks uncomfortable. “He was always really clear on that point, actually.”

“Oh. Sorry. What I meant is you are family at the end of the day.”

“I know…”

“Jeez, this is really eating at you. What specifically do you think will happen? Worst scenario.”

“I tell him I regret nothing that I’ve done and by extension he takes that to mean everything he ever did for me was pointless and all the work he does is also pointless and he basically realizes he raised a totalitarian monster that rejects all his personal axioms?”

Dick lowers his sunglasses slightly to stare at him over the rims.

Kal looks, thankfully, embarrassed. “Worst case scenario! I literally did the exact thing he raised me not to do and I just don’t see how he’s going to forgive me for that.”

“Because you’re his little brother and he loves you. Wow. That was easy. Let’s go to Gotham right now.”

Kal jerks a little when Dick makes a mock-move to stand up and that tiny fear response makes Dick feel just a little bad. He sits back down.

“You honestly think he’s not going to forgive you for going out on your own?”

“He has strong opinions about things.”

“He’s also just a dude with a thing for Vantablack.”

“You wouldn’t be scared to disobey him?”

“Are you kidding? Petrified. But I’d still do it if I really believed it and, honestly, I think as long as you’re not drowning puppies in buckets or getting a mullet he’ll probably respect what you did.” Dick shrugs. “I mean, it’s hard to argue with the results.”

Kal looks skeptical.

“I’m not saying he won’t be a huge tool about it at first, maybe, but he’ll get over it. Seriously. Just… reach out. I don’t think he’s going to do it because he thinks you… want it this way or something. I can tell you don’t so just fix it. Or at least try. You’re Superman. You can’t possibly tell me it’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done.”

Kal almost smiles. “I’m really glad you signed on to be Robin Two Point Oh.”

“Okay, well, don’t spread it around but I’ll probably upgrade from that pretty quick here.”

“You’re thinking about leaving?”

“I’m eighteen. I’ll have to leave eventually.”

“And… the rest of it?”

“You mean the cape and cowl?” He frowns. “I mean… I think I’ll always want to do that. Just not… not in Gotham forever. And I can’t be Robin somewhere else; I think that’s a really specific role. Look, it’s just something I’m tossing around. You left. I can leave. It’s just the normal progression of things.”

Kal thinks about it. “You picked out a name yet?”

Dick blinks behind his glasses. “No. Why?”

“I might have a suggestion.”

  It was, perhaps, inevitable that it would happen this way.

Or that’s what he’s thinking while he’s falling from 10,000 feet up, every on-board system fried, auxiliary flight components shredded, the dark terrain racing up to meet him. He goes through possible scenarios. Anything and everything he could do to prevent slamming into the planet at terminal velocity and he’s got nothing. The sky above him: a rolling orange swath of flame, the steel monolith coming apart in continental shards of alien alloy. The mechanism of mass destruction slicing a fiery path toward the ocean.

Even if he could fly, he’s not sure he could get clear of the wreckage – likely to fall miles around.

His armor’s melted in places – fused to his ribs, his right thigh, his boots have melted at the sole. The pain is… intense actually. Intense enough he’s a little relieved it’s probably going to stop very soon. The wind in his ears roars. Through the roar, his comm still just barely crackles with Dick’s voice, frantic and far away, saying his name (is that really his name?) over and over again from too far away to help.

His primary regret: Dick is going to watch him die on fucking monitor.

“It’s fine,” he says, which is fucking stupid of course.

“No!”

“You’re going to be fine, Dick.”

These are the worst last words in the history of last words. He just doesn’t know what else to say, the earth rushing up as it is, so fast he’s not going to be able to speak. Bruce rolls into a para-trooper flat, belly down, arms and legs out, facing the growing ridge of the mountain that, it appears, will be his final destination. The comm’s damaged. Dick is saying something. He can’t make it out and he’s not sure why that – not the screaming air, not the pain, not the inevitable end – is getting to him. Seconds before his death and all he can think is he’d trade anything to hear what Dick is trying to say.

There’s static now.

There’s no one with him for this part.

That’s fine.

It’s fine.

Really.

It’s…

The mountain below him suddenly snaps. It vanishes. There’s a bright primary blur that baffles his eyes before snapping back into focus and, like a glitch in the universe, Kal-El is between him and the earth. His eyes: wide, colorless blue, inhuman in their hue and containing every human fear possible. He’s moving at terminal velocity, backwards, propelled by the mysterious gravitational forces that live in his Kryptonian physiology. He’s wearing his uniform. Superman – flying exactly fast enough to be exactly within arms’ reach, face to face with Batman as he falls.

He’s shouting something.

Bruce throws his arms out at the same moment Kal grabs for him, seizes his elbows and pulls him into his chest. Bruce feels three of his ribs crack when Kal miscalculates the speed, slams into him with enough force to stun. He doesn’t have the air to scream as Kal balls around him and pitches, hard, right. His arms cage him like a roll bar in a flipping car. The G-force briefly curdles his brain, dark edges closing. His teeth in his skull seem set to explode. Lungs crushed, surrounded by a splintering construct of calcium.

Then it stops. Planes out. Bruce opens his eyes and the sky is framed by trees, the hole in the canopy of evergreens. The ground underneath him smells of pine and shredded earth, a Superman shaped crater in the forest floor. He must have blacked out for the impact. Kal is looking down at him with a panic in his face that steals all his adult years and Bruce sees him – five years old, stuck on that goddamn bunker ceiling.

“Bruce! Bruce?! Are you okay?”

He grunts. Gets his breath.

“Sloppy catch.”

Kal stares.

Bruce grimaces and sits up. “We practiced that about a hundred times in the Philippines.”

Kal stares.

“If you don’t learn how to match velocity in mid-air, you can’t expect to save civilians from –.”

Kal moves forward and hooks both arms around Bruce’s shoulders and silently buries his face against his shoulder.

Bruce hesitates… then loops one arm around Superman’s back, palm flat against his shoulder blades.

“Nice of you to drop by,” Bruce says.

Kal laughs. “Dick said I should.”

“You couldn’t call me before alien warships are flying over Gotham?”

“You couldn't call me before you pick a fight with an alien warship?”

"I don't have your number."

"Dick has my number. You have my number if you wanted my number."

Bruce sighs, pressing a hand into his ribs. “Any chance of flying out of here that isn’t you carrying me bridal style?”

 “Not really. You crashed the Bat Jet into the side of their ship.”

“It’s not called the ‘Bat Jet’. It’s just a jet.”

“Dick says it’s the Bat Jet and he also says, you still call the car ‘The Batmobile’. So…”

Bruce glares.

“Are you glaring? I can’t tell with the new cowl. Is that, like, a heavy combat version or…?”

“I’m glaring.”

“Okay. Thought so. You know you can admit I'm good at naming things.”

“Unbelievable.”

“I’m just saying.”

“You should have let me drop into the goddamn mountain.”

“Batmobile. Trademark: Superman.”

[phoenixcatch7]

I lovvvve the xenomorph design so much, it's surprisingly intricate and it just looks so fun to move around as.

Not a very imposing pic lol, but I can and will info dump. These creatures are very suited for gotham.

Their legs alone, fully extended, are the length of a adult humans height! Their tail is twice the length of their body exactly, and fully prehensile! It's used for pulling off impressive feats of balance, giving them insane maneuverability and and agility at high speeds in just about any environment! In water variants the tail is also webbed and rudder like, which makes them very fast and agile underwater!

They've got six fingers on each hand, two thumbs, and either their fingers have ball joints at the base or they're very flexible, because they often use them to climb small slippery surfaces like pipes, with enough strength to support their full weight plus victims! The extra thumb is used for a superior grip too - and they have small beans!

The toes are long, flat and slightly webbed, allowing it increased mobility on loose surfaces like sand or snow and in water. The lack of a proper heel makes up for the increased floor contact that would otherwise lead to reduced speed in a straight line.

The high shoulder guards protect the neck from side angles, while the spikes/vents and mouth protect the front and back. The spikes are angled to prevent catching on the long head, which presumably houses the brain, telepathic (?) organs that allow for long and close range communication with pack members and the hive queen, and the muscles for the infamous phalange jaw.

The lack of lips is interesting in that it doesn't stop drool which is a pretty resource intensive thing to just let dribble everywhere and I'm pretty sure the joint spikes are just to look cool but all in all the xenomorph is a very elegant design!

It's an extremophile of the highest order, capable of surviving even the vacuum of space, and all stages are able to enter hibernation almost indefinitely and rapidly emerge even after millenia, and of living that long naturally. They're pretty much immortal. Its blood is green and extremely corrosive to the point of melting through thick steel, has no need to eat, sleep or breathe, is seemingly telepathic within the species, and their hyper adaptability leads to immense dimorphism even within generations! By selecting for the victims, xeno types can come in any species under any sun, but noticeable ones include blood hounds, sea serpents, bat winged, the standard humanoid with increased intelligence capable of tactics and strategy, panthers, spiders, acid spitters, triceratops and more! Not even getting into the caste system!!

Xeno hybrids are usually pretty unhealthy, but work arounds could be found in the dc universe. Perhaps shape shifting or heavy duty illusions if you don't want to split the bodies entirely. The dark, dingy, often cramped city of Gotham is an ideal place for a xenomorph nest - there's canonically several old alien bunkers and nests and what have you left over from previous invasions.

Slowly rotating xenomorph batfam, either full blown xenomorph or similar to several experiments are some sort of xeno hybrids- probably with human but there's also been other types too.

[hummingbirdsalt]

Borrower Batfam pt. 2

Continuation of this post ✨️

So now I'll talk about Clark! In this AU, he's literally... just himself lol. Supes and everything. Because while he is an alien, I think he fits nicely into the Kind Human role you often see in borrower stories.

And of course, it's his apartment that Bruce and the gaggle of kids end up choosing. It's pure contrivance chance that they end up settling inside his walls, and they have no idea how strange their unwitting roommate truly is.

And Clark? Well, he just knows about borrowers, and pretty much always has. This man has superhearing and x-ray vision, after all.

I don't think he's ever interacted with any of them, though. At times, he feels tempted, seeing how much they struggle to survive. But he also sees how careful they are to avoid being discovered, and he understands why. It would be wrong, intruding on their secret existence without any reason beyond his curiosity.

What he doesn't anticipate is coming home one day to find a whole group of them moving in. He hears them first, several voices and heartbeats that, while perfectly audible to him, sound distinctly smaller than any human's. He peers into the wall and... yeah, that's definitely a bunch of tiny people.

It's bizarre, having roommates who don't even realize he knows about them. He observes their homemaking efforts over several days, amazed at the way they construct little rooms and tools out of forgotten items.

After a while, he's able to put names to everyone, and gain some understanding of their dynamics. Maybe he should feel guilty, practically spying on this little family, but it's difficult to ignore them.

Every time he comes home, he listens for their tiny heartbeats. When he goes to the store, he checks their supplies to see what they need. If he hears one of them in distress, his eyes are locked on immediately, though he knows he can't help without crossing a line.

One day, he crosses that line inadvertently.

He comes home, heading straight to the kitchen because he's been having One of Those Days and he needs to snack. He's in the middle of absent-mindedly listening for all the heartbeats when he realizes one of them is very close. By the time he notices, his eyes have already drifted to the sink, where a tiny figure looks back in horror.

It's Dick, one of the few kids old enough to go out on a solo borrowing trip. At this point, he's slipped and fallen into the sink, hurting his ankle as well. Now he's having the worst possible time lol

It's too late for Clark to pretend he hasn't seen him, and he feels helpless watching the small boy curl away in terror. Meanwhile, Dick feels helpless because he's injured and Smol and a huge man is staring at him jjsndjjfjnfkf

But Clark is quick to offer reassurance. In a way, it comes naturally, interacting with a being far less powerful than he is. He speaks softly, doing his best to communicate that he means no harm.

It takes a while, but Dick eventually starts to believe him. He doesn't exactly trust him, but he's struck by how careful and polite the man is. No one holding all the power should even need to be polite.

Basically, Clark behaves with all the manners his ma and pa would expect, and it kinda snaps Dick out of his fear.

Clark is especially cautious when he offers to lend the boy a hand. He knows it must be a terrifying prospect, giving total control to a gigantic stranger, so he doesn't push for an answer. Dick takes his time, and agrees reluctantly.

Two hands, each bigger than his entire body, maneuver him out of the sink. He's so afraid, yet so aware of how gentle every motion is. Humans (and we will refer to Clark as human, since that's what Dick thinks) aren't supposed to be like this.

They're supposed to be dangerous, whether they mean to be or not. Even with all of Clark's kindness, Dick half expects to be crushed by accident in the massive hands. Instead, he's overcome by a sense of warmth and stability.

I'm gonna stop here, but I intend to make at least one more post! Maybe I'm just overly sensitive, but I don't want these to be too long since they aren't Proper Fics lol

[cdelphiki]

Why do I feel like you're the type of peep who'd make an au that's basically supes saying "fuck it, these kids (batfam) are mine now"

Cause I literally made that AU. 😁

Life with the Kents

[redrobin-detective]

Isolation AU: Since the JLA is sponsored by the government to an extent, they have to give press conferences at the White House about new members. Superman decides it would be great to finally let America see the Gotham vigilantes when Batman joins, so he invites the BatFam. He thinks it's just a small group, maybe no more than 10... then here comes Bats, his children, Batman Inc., We Are Robin, Agent A, the Gotham City Sirens, a Bat Hound, etc. Supes vaguely hears the Titans cackling.

JLA: oh my god this is more than we signed up for

the Bats: too late we have altered all of your security, sent out enhanced training regimens and put you on the christmas card list. You are stuck with us