#batman x black!oc

[alexblack1306]

I finally finished my version of the Joker! I really hope someone will like my JJ and I'll see fanart on him^^

It also has references to two artists in it, @bepoucorp (earrings) and @jonkleringjerster (tailbone tattoo).

Thanks for the inspiration, guys!

[kawaiigirly21]

My DC OC Nightingale (who trained along side Black Canary) and Batman

[katiawidow]

I think Jason's love language is spend time with you

İt doesn't matter good time or like hell

He doesn't show it, but he loves it when you stitch up his wounds.

Pick you up after work

Going on patrols together

You once caught a smuggler together. As dangerous as it is, he likes it very much.

"I told you I could handle this alone! Why are you here?!"

And after mission

"thanks for being here"

[2-guns-b1tch]

Jonathan Crane x Ophelia Swan (oc)

I went to watch Swan Lake and it was a beautiful experience so I wanted to draw something inspired by this moment. Sometimes, during her troubled moments, Ophelia sees herself like Odette, Jonathan as her prince and Batman as Rothbart.

[introvertllux]

Meet the Wayne’s Chapter 4: Fault Lines

I DON’T claim the rights to batman only the black!OC. Also this is pure fiction and NOT my thoughts on marriage or family at all.

Word count: 6703

Third Person P.O.V

The darkness of the Batcave barely registers tonight; it swallows him, its depths closing in as jagged memories claw through his mind, vivid and merciless.

He’s back in the chaos of the orphanage grounds, the moments after the explosion crashing into his senses. The blast hits him with relentless force, a wall of fire and shrieking metal tearing him from his family. Heat sears his skin; the raw, bitter tang of smoke and dust fills his throat, his vision flickering in and out of focus as the world twists into a blurred nightmare. A metallic taste sits thick on his tongue, the stench of burning debris choking every breath. Somewhere nearby, he hears the cries of panicked children, the dull thud of falling concrete, a cacophony of pain and confusion.

And in the epicenter of it all, he sees her—Scarlett, encased in a sickly, pulsing glow. His vision sharpens for a second, taking in the unnatural pink light radiating from her hands, illuminating her figure in the smoke-filled ruins. For a heartbeat, she is both familiar and terrifying, her skin emblazoned with symbols he doesn’t recognize—ancient, jagged symbols that coil around her body like hungry vines, each line bright and alien, pulsating as if they’re alive, twisting through her skin, binding her to something unspeakable. He can’t look away, horrified as she lifts her hands and the pink light spreads, expanding into a protective shield around the boys, shimmering with raw, arcane energy.

The symbols shift and flare, seeming to grow, searing themselves deeper into her skin until she looks less like the woman he knows and more like a creature out of a nightmare. Tendrils of light coil from her fingers, threading through the air, wrapping around their sons in a way that is both protective and horrifying, as if something monstrous is holding them close. His sons’ faces are wide-eyed, pale against the crimson haze of the chaos around them, their expressions reflecting his own fear, their voices swallowed by the explosion’s aftershock.

A flash of blinding pink light, and he’s thrown backward, hitting the ground with a force that cracks through his bones. He hears the world distantly, as if through water—the sound of Scarlett’s voice, strange and resonant, mingling with the low hum of power that feels like it’s bleeding into the very air. His head spins, pain rocketing through his body, and when he lifts his gaze again, she is still there, a vision of otherworldly power, the symbols now pulsating like a heartbeat. Every blink brings a new nightmare into focus—the symbols writhing across her skin, her eyes blazing with the same light, unnatural, almost… inhuman.

What has she become?

___________________________________________________________

Back in the Batcave, Bruce’s fists clench until his knuckles burn, his mind trapped between fury and a creeping sense of horror. It replays again and again, each time worse, each time clearer—the symbols, those terrible, glowing brands that marked her skin, the strange, almost reverent way they seemed to pulse with each of her breaths. And the power, raw and unearthly, wrapping around their sons with the force of an invisible hand.

The woman he thought he knew, his partner, his wife—she had stood amidst that chaos wielding powers he couldn’t begin to understand, forces that defied every rational rule he lived by. He realizes, with a cold dread creeping into his bones, that he’s been blind. Blind to the secrets she carried, to the darkness woven into her past. What else has she kept from him? What else is buried beneath the surface, concealed by her quiet words, her careful facade?. Questions swirl and harden into something cold, focused, and selfishly determined. He will have answers.

The moment Bruce storms into the manor, his fury is a palpable force, chilling the room as he enters. Shadows cling to him like a cloak, and each stride crackles with barely restrained rage. He’s singularly focused, almost feverish, every thought consumed by one need: answers. He has no concern for his sons’ well-being, no space in his mind to wonder how they’re handling the aftermath. The only obstacle between him and Scarlett’s secrets stands before him—Alfred.

In the dim light of the sitting room, Alfred stands protectively, the boys gathered around him like soldiers waiting for orders. They’re watching Bruce with uncertainty, tension radiating from each of them, but Bruce barely registers their presence. His face is a mask of cold resolve as he stares down Alfred, his jaw clenched, fists tight.

“Where is she, Alfred?” His voice cuts through the silence like a blade, each word sharp, deadly, and laced with venom.

Alfred’s expression shifts almost imperceptibly—a flicker of concern that doesn’t escape Bruce’s notice and only stokes his anger further. “She’s resting, Master Bruce,” Alfred replies, his tone calm, steady. “I’ve advised her to take time to recuperate, to let the—”

“I don’t care about rest.” Bruce’s voice rises, tinged with bitterness and barely restrained fury. “I need to talk to her. Now.”

Alfred’s gaze hardens, and there’s a steely resolve in his eyes as he meets Bruce’s. “With all due respect, sir, now is not the time. She’s been through more than you know. Let her rest.”

The betrayal twists in Bruce’s gut like a knife, the mere fact that Alfred—his oldest confidant—would stand between him and the truth, protecting Scarlett’s secrets instead of him. Him. The man who trusted Alfred above all else.

Bruce steps forward, his voice dropping to a low, venomous growl. “Alfred, I have every right to know what my own wife has been hiding from me. You don’t get to decide that.”

Alfred’s gaze remains steady, unflinching, calm as a stone in a storm. “And yet, Master Bruce, I fear pressing her now will only push her further from you. Perhaps… patience—”

“Patience?” Bruce’s voice is a raw, incredulous whisper, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles go white. “I watched her wield something beyond our world, Alfred. Symbols, light, things that have no place in this family. And you’re telling me to wait?” His eyes narrow, his voice a bitter accusation. “What else are you hiding from me?”

The tension between them is thick, suffocating, but the boys have had enough of watching silently.

“Maybe now isn’t the time, Dad,” Dick says, breaking the silence with a calm but pained voice. He steps forward, his gaze steady but pleading. “Mom’s been through a lot. Pushing her like this is only going to make everything worse.”

Jason scoffs, his arms crossed, a look of pure disdain on his face as he stares at Bruce. “Right, because ignoring everything has worked so well in this family.” He takes a step forward, his voice simmering with resentment. “Isn’t that how you work, Dad? Keeping everything buried under secrets, shoving us out whenever it’s ‘inconvenient’?”

Bruce’s eyes narrow, but Jason doesn’t flinch. The anger in his voice spills out with years of pent-up rage. “Funny. You act like you’re all about honesty, trust, family—but you’re just as much of a liar as she is. More, even. And you know it.”

Bruce’s jaw tightens, his voice coming out as a dangerous hiss. “This isn’t about secrets for the sake of it, Jason. This is about our safety. Your safety.”

Jason’s face twists with fury. “My safety? Are you kidding me? You know what’s not safe? Sending your kids out to fight psychos and maniacs every other night. You care more about Gotham than you ever did about us. About me.” His voice cracks, anger boiling over. “If she’s keeping secrets, it’s only because she knows that you’re incapable of dealing with anything you can’t control.”

Bruce glares at Jason, but he can feel the weight of all their eyes on him, each gaze a silent accusation.

Tim clears his throat, his voice careful but challenging. “But maybe there’s a reason she didn’t tell you, Dad. You’ve always been against… anything you can’t control. I don’t blame her for hiding it.”

Bruce’s gaze snaps to Tim, his fury mingling with a sense of betrayal that makes his voice icy. “I trusted her,” he snaps. “I trusted all of you. And now I find out that each one of you would rather protect her secrets than respect my right to know what’s happening in my own family?”

“Your family?” Damian’s voice is cold, almost mocking, as he crosses his arms. “Funny. You talk about family like you know what it means, but you treat us like soldiers. Like pieces on a chessboard you can push around and sacrifice when it’s convenient.” His words are bitter, razor-sharp. “Mother has her reasons, I’m sure. And if you can’t handle it, maybe that’s the issue.”

Bruce’s eyes narrow dangerously as he turns to Damian, his voice dropping to a deadly tone. “What I can’t handle is betrayal. Your mother has been lying to us—for years. You don’t keep something like this from your family.”

A scoff cuts through the room. “Family?” Duke says, his tone thick with disbelief. “You keep talking about family, but all you ever cared about is Gotham. You think being Batman gives you a free pass to ignore us, to push us out of your life and call it protection.” He takes a step forward, his voice steady but angry. “You weren’t even there when Jason—” Duke glances at Jason, his voice faltering, then regains his resolve, “when any of us needed you. And now you’re mad that she tried to do what you never did?”

Bruce’s fists clenched tighter, his face twisting with bitterness. “So this is all my fault?” He spits, his voice almost a snarl. “I put my life on the line every day to protect all of you. And this is what I get? Accusations? Disrespect?”

Dick steps forward, his face tense, his voice strong but filled with hurt. “No, Dad, this is what happens when you put Gotham before us. When you build walls around yourself and keep everything locked away. You think you’re protecting us, but you’re tearing us apart.” His gaze meets Bruce’s, steady and unwavering. “If you want to blame someone for all the secrets in this family, look in the mirror. We learned from the best, didn’t we?”

For a second, Bruce’s face softens, a flicker of pain crossing his features, but he steels himself, his gaze hardening. And then Jason steps forward, fists clenched, his voice dripping with scorn.

“You think you’re some great protector, but all you do is control. You’re so obsessed with Gotham, you can’t even see us for who we are. You use us, treat us like weapons, then demand loyalty?” He lets out a bitter laugh, stepping even closer. “Mom might have her secrets, but at least she gives a damn about us.”

Bruce’s face contorts in anger, and he takes a step toward Jason, his voice low and deadly. “Watch yourself, Jason.”

Jason’s sneer only deepens, his hands curling into fists as he stares Bruce down. “Or what, Bruce?” he spits, his voice laced with contempt. “You’re not half the father you think you are. You want everyone’s loyalty, but you don’t deserve it. Not like this.”

The words hang in the air, thick with tension, and for a moment, it feels like the thin thread holding them together is about to snap. Bruce’s hand twitches, his fury nearly blinding him, as he takes another step closer. It’s a heartbeat away from turning physical, the rage between them almost unbearable.

The tension in the room swells, pressing in like a storm about to break. The silence grows heavy, thick with unspoken accusations, with words so sharp and bitter they seem to hang in the air like knives. Each breath feels weighted, every glare a loaded weapon.

The boys are visibly shaken, their faces tense and guarded, raw emotions surfacing as they look at each other, uncertain, angry, hurt. Jason’s fists are clenched so tightly his knuckles have gone white; Damian’s face, usually calm, is clouded with a confusion he can barely conceal. Dick stands firm but pained, his shoulders taut, every inch of him aching with the burden of holding this family together. Tim’s gaze flits between Bruce and Alfred, his mind racing, analyzing every fractured piece of the scene. Duke, his usual calm slipping, looks ready to step forward, but something holds him back, a silent question in his eyes.

In the thick, tense silence, a presence shifts the air, drawing every eye to the doorway. It’s not the dramatic entrance of a warrior or a call for attention, but the quiet strength of a mother, a woman bearing secrets and scars. Scarlett stands there, her arms wrapped in bandages concealing the marks Bruce had seen, hiding the symbols that had just shattered the fragile trust between them.

Her face is pale, but her gaze is steady, deep as dark water, and beneath her composed exterior lies the weight of pain and secrets she’s carried alone for too long. There’s something hauntingly resolute about her, like a structure pieced together after a storm, refusing to let even a crack show. Every movement is deliberate, unyielding.

The boys, instinctively, draw closer to her, as if grounding themselves in her presence. Jason’s fists relax slightly, though his eyes still burn with restrained fury; Dick’s stance softens as he watches her, concern shadowing his face; Damian, usually guarded, reveals a flicker of vulnerable uncertainty, his gaze searching hers for reassurance. Each son looks to her with the raw ache of loyalty mixed with confusion, a need for answers balanced with an implicit, unshakable trust.

Scarlett meets each of their eyes, her expression unwavering as she takes a silent headcount, offering the reassurance only a mother’s presence can provide. Her calm gaze settles the chaos, even if just for a moment, promising them that no matter the secrets or tension, her love remains unshaken.

And then, breaking the stillness with a quiet strength that commands attention, she speaks.

"Enough."

The single word lands with the weight of an iron bell, stilling every lingering thought and dissolving even Bruce’s bitter glare. Her voice isn’t loud, but it cuts through the air with a finality that no one can ignore, not even Bruce. His face snaps toward her, caught off-guard by the power of her voice.

But the shock quickly gives way to cold disdain, his gaze raking over her bandages. His mouth twists into a mocking smile. “Oh, so you’re finally here,” he sneers, his voice thick with venom. “How convenient that you’d rather hide behind those bandages, wrap up all your little *secrets* than show me who you really are. Was this your plan all along? Making me think I had a partner?” He laughs bitterly, each word an accusation. “Or was I just another pawn you thought you could use?”

Scarlett’s jaw tightens, but she stands her ground, meeting his gaze without flinching. Her voice is low, steady. “I was trying to protect this family, Bruce. I didn’t want to drag you into something you could never understand.”

“*Understand?*” Bruce’s face contorts with anger, his voice rising, accusations spilling from him like acid. “Protect us? You don’t know the first thing about protecting a family. *I’m* the one who’s held this family together while you lied to us every day, hiding whatever that was. I’ve sacrificed everything—for you, for Gotham, for these boys—and you… you just stood back and watched, hiding who you are.”

A flash of hurt flickers in Scarlett’s eyes, but she remains composed. “I did what I thought was best. I kept it hidden because I wanted to keep you safe.”

Jason steps forward, his frustration boiling over. “Funny, isn’t it?” he sneers. “That word doesn’t mean a damn thing around here. ‘Safe?’ No one’s safe in this family. We’re dragged into all your secrets, all your lies.” His gaze, blazing with betrayal, locks onto Bruce. “And you, Dad—don’t talk to me about loyalty. You care more about Gotham than us. Batman first, Gotham first. We’re just what’s left over.”

Bruce’s voice is cold and sharp. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Jason. *Everything* I’ve done has been for this family.”

“No,” Dick cuts in, his voice strong but carrying a tremor of hurt. “Everything you’ve done has been for you. Every decision you make, every wall you put up—it’s to keep us out and protect yourself. And we’ve been left to pick up the pieces while you keep us in the dark.”

Bruce’s gaze snaps to Dick, his face hardening. “I’m the one who’s kept this family alive. You couldn’t possibly understand the sacrifices I’ve had to make for Gotham, for *you.*”

Duke shakes his head, his tone cutting. “Sacrifices? Sure. But if we’re so safe, Bruce, why do we keep coming back broken? We’ve all had to keep secrets just to stay intact. And now you’re furious with Mom for trying to protect us? You’re mad that she did what you’ve done every day. Look in the mirror.”

Bruce’s fists tighten, his voice turning icy. “This isn’t the same, Duke. I haven’t lied to you about who I am.”

Tim’s voice slices through, measured and clear, the analytical mind behind it breaking through Bruce’s denial. “But you *have,* Dad. You kept us in the dark over and over. You hid Damian from us for *years.* You lied about Jason after… after what happened to him. You’ve kept things hidden from each of us, all the time. This family is built on secrets—and most of them are yours.”

Bruce’s eyes turn to Tim, his expression twisting with a bitter frustration. “Those weren’t lies; they were decisions I made to protect all of you.”

“Protect?” Damian laughs, a cold sound that carries the bite of deep disappointment. “Or protect your image, Father? You talk about family, but we’re just pawns on your board, part of your crusade. The minute we become inconvenient, you toss us aside or cover up the truth. Maybe Mother kept secrets because she knew what you’d do. And maybe the problem isn’t her—it’s you.”

A dangerous glint flashes in Bruce’s eyes as he steps toward Damian, his voice a low, deadly rumble. “What I can’t accept is betrayal. Your mother has lied to us all, hidden parts of herself that none of you could understand. And you’re blaming me?”

“Maybe she thought you wouldn’t understand,” Dick says, his tone uncharacteristically harsh. “Maybe she thought you’d react exactly like this—lashing out, accusing her instead of even asking why.” He holds Bruce’s gaze, his voice edged with pain. “Maybe she didn’t tell you because she knew you couldn’t handle it.”

A thick silence falls, and Bruce’s gaze lands back on Scarlett, his eyes filled with fury, his face hardening further as he stares at her, the bandages concealing everything he suddenly feels he doesn’t know about her.

“Oh, I can handle it,” he sneers, his voice low, mocking. “The real question is, what else are you hiding, Scarlett? Or was this all just some twisted game from the beginning?” His voice drops into a cold, scathing whisper as he steps closer. “Did you ever care about me? Or was I just another step in whatever plan you had?”

Scarlett’s expression holds steady, though pain flickers in her eyes. Her voice is quiet but unwavering. “I did what I thought was best for all of you, Bruce. I didn’t want to drag you into something you’d never accept.”

“Oh, spare me,” he spits, his voice full of contempt. “Best for you, more like. You kept us in the dark, treated me, treated all of us, like strangers. And you think that’s what’s best?” He leans in, his voice a cold, venomous whisper. “If I’d known who you really were, Scarlett… I would never have married you. I regret every single moment I wasted on your lies.”

His words hang heavy in the air, cruel and final, as Scarlett’s face pales, unshed tears brightening her eyes. The boys stare at him, each of them stunned, the devastation of his words settling over them like a suffocating weight.

She finally whispers, “You don’t mean that, Bruce.”

“Oh, I mean every word,” he sneers, bitterness dripping from every syllable. “You wanted secrets, Scarlett? Well, I want none of them. I want nothing to do with you if this is who you really are.”

The boys, caught in the tension, glance between their parents, trying to reconcile the love they thought they knew with the anger and betrayal spilling into the room.

Without another word, Bruce turns sharply, his footsteps echoing as he leaves the room, his final words hanging like a curse in the air. And as he disappears into the shadows, the shattered remnants of their family stand in stunned silence, the weight of his words pressing down on them like a suffocating shroud.

___________________________________________________________

Scarlett stands there in the heavy silence left in Bruce’s wake, her heart splintering with the weight of everything unsaid. She can feel the anger radiating from each of her sons, the betrayal simmering in their eyes, the questions they’re too hurt to voice. She forces herself to take a steadying breath, anchoring herself so she can be the calm in their storm, even as her own heart fractures under the burden of their pain.

She steps forward, her voice soft but imbued with a strength that she hopes they can lean on. “Come on,” she says gently, extending a hand to each of them as though gathering her flock. “Let’s sit down. Let’s talk.”

The boys exchange reluctant glances, some scowling, some averting their eyes, but they follow her, settling into the familiar comfort of the living room. Jason drops onto the couch with barely restrained fury, his gaze fixed on the floor, arms crossed tightly over his chest like a fortress. Damian sits stiffly, shoulders squared, masking the conflict within. Dick leans against the back of the couch, arms folded, his expression tense. Tim and Duke linger by the doorway, guarded and wary, their eyes flitting between her and the empty hall Bruce left through, as if hoping he might walk back through it.

Scarlett takes a seat beside Jason, reaching out to place a gentle hand on his shoulder, feeling the tension wound tightly beneath her touch. “Jay,” she murmurs, her voice a balm, even if his walls are up. “It’s okay to be angry. You’ve got every right to be.”

Jason flinches but doesn’t pull away, though his jaw tightens, his voice raw and low. “Angry? That doesn’t even begin to cover it.” He glances up at her, pain flickering in his gaze, barely concealed by the anger layered over it. “He doesn’t care about us, Ma. He only cares about himself—and that damn city.” His voice cracks, the vulnerability seeping through despite his effort to suppress it. “You’re the only one who’s ever really been here for us.”

The words cut deep, and Scarlett feels her heart shatter just a little more as she takes in the hurt he tries so hard to hide. “I know, Jason,” she says, voice steady but laced with sorrow, trying to reach through the bitterness to touch the young boy she remembers, the one who always looked for his father’s approval. “Your father… he has his own way of loving. It’s not perfect, but that doesn’t make your feelings any less valid.”

“Then why isn’t he here?” Jason’s voice rises, frustration spilling out. “Why is he out there, doing what he does best—running from us?”

Scarlett lets the silence settle, her hand tracing soft, comforting circles on his shoulder, the way she used to when he was younger, before everything became so complicated. Her gaze drifts to the others, each of them wearing that same look, a mixture of frustration, hurt, and exhaustion, all of them silently asking the same question: Why isn’t he here?

Finally, she speaks, looking each of them in the eyes, grounding them with her gaze. “I can’t explain all his choices,” she says softly. “I wish I could. But I know he loves you, even if he doesn’t always know how to show it.”

Damian’s scoff breaks the moment, his posture rigid, arms crossed tightly. “Father has a very… peculiar way of showing love,” he mutters, sarcasm dripping from every word. “To him, we’re soldiers. Tools to be used in his crusade. That’s all we are to him.”

Scarlett turns to Damian, her expression softening as she reads the complicated tangle of hurt and pride in his eyes. “He’s not perfect, Damian,” she says, her voice a gentle balm. “None of us are. I know he can be… distant, cold even. But he’s just as human as the rest of us, even if he doesn’t like to admit it.”

Damian meets her gaze, a flicker of vulnerability breaking through his hardened exterior. “Does he even know that, though?” he says, his voice softer, tinged with resentment.

Tim’s voice cuts in, calm but lined with a bitter edge. “That’s just it, Mom. He demands perfection from all of us, but he’s the first one to leave us behind when things get too hard.” His gaze is dark, conflicted, and Scarlett can see the weight of years spent trying to live up to his father’s impossible standards. “He sets expectations that no one can meet, then just… walks away when it suits him.”

Scarlett’s heart aches as she listens, taking in the toll Bruce’s distance has taken on each of them. “I know,” she says gently, reaching out to Tim, her touch light but comforting. “Sometimes he’s so focused on protecting all of you that he forgets you need more than just protection. And that’s unfair. It really is.”

Dick, leaning against the couch, lets out a long, weary sigh, his voice quiet but steady. “It just… it makes it hard to trust him, Mom. Every time he walks away, every time he shuts us out, it feels like he’s choosing his mission over us. Like we’re just… side projects.” He runs a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his every movement. “And he doesn’t even realize it.”

Scarlett reaches for Dick’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, grounding him with the warmth of her touch. “I know, Dick,” she says softly, her eyes filled with a fierce love that envelops each of them. “You all deserve more than he’s giving you. And I know it’s hard—harder than it should be. But you’re not alone in this.” She glances around, her voice firm and steady. “You have each other. And you have me. No matter what happens, I’m here, and I will always be here.”

A heavy silence settles over the room, her words sinking in, and she can see each of them absorbing the reassurance she offers, letting it fill the void left by Bruce’s absence. Jason’s shoulders ease slightly, his anger softening into something quieter. Damian’s posture relaxes, the usual tension between him and the others fading, if only for a moment. Tim looks down, his expression unreadable, but she can feel the shift in him, the way her words have touched a part of him he rarely shows.

But beneath Scarlett’s calm exterior, a storm rages. She feels the weight of her choices, the secrets she’s kept, bearing down on her with unrelenting force. She wonders how much of this hurt she could have prevented if she’d been more honest, if she hadn’t woven her life with Bruce out of carefully constructed facades.

A memory stirs, drawing her back to the early days, when everything felt simpler, when she hadn’t yet seen the cracks forming beneath the surface of the life they’d built.

The memory washed over Scarlett, vivid and raw, as if she were back on that rooftop with Bruce, caught between the stars and Gotham’s fractured lights. The air was cool, tinged with the scent of rain and smoke, and each sound—the faint hum of the city below, the occasional gust of wind—felt amplified against the silence that stretched between them. She remembered the feeling coursing through her then: a thrill tinged with fear, an excitement she could hardly contain. She had been so young, eager to escape her past, to finally seize control of her own destiny. Being here with Bruce had felt like a door opening to a life that once seemed impossible.

She’d stood beside him, teetering between disbelief and exhilaration, tasting freedom on the edge of every breath. Her past with Ra’s al Ghul felt like a distant ghost, something she could leave behind if only she played her part well enough. She saw in Bruce Wayne the ultimate escape, a life that promised security, power, and maybe even the family she had always craved but never dared to dream of. Yet there was something else, too—a magnetism she hadn’t expected, a pull toward the man behind the wealth and mystique. She knew she had walked onto this rooftop to be exactly who he needed, carefully crafting herself into that perfect “cool girl” he might fall for. And yet, standing here, looking at him, she found herself suddenly questioning her own intentions.

Beside her, Bruce was half-hidden in the dim light, his features etched in shadow, his gaze fixed on the skyline. There was something unbreakable about him, a figure carved from stone and shadow, an enigma that made him seem almost otherworldly. But tonight, as she watched him, she could see a glimmer of something else, something fragile beneath the armor he wore. He wasn’t just Gotham’s billionaire or some untouchable vigilante; he was a man bearing a burden that seemed insurmountable. It was that rawness she saw beneath his façade that intrigued her, more than any amount of money or status could.

They shared the silence for a while, sipping wine as they looked out over the lights of Gotham, two figures united yet worlds apart. Scarlett could feel the weight he carried, a heaviness that seeped into his every movement, as if he were bearing the weight of the night itself. She felt a strange pull to ease that weight, to step into a role he’d never asked her to play but that she could see he needed. And yet, a small voice whispered that this was more than just a role. She wanted him to look at her and see something beyond the woman she pretended to be.

And then, as if pulled by some invisible force, he spoke, his voice low, barely more than a murmur. “Do you ever wonder if it’ll end?”

She blinked, caught off-guard. Bruce, ever composed and controlled, rarely revealed anything personal. For weeks, he had been a fortress, someone whose charm and mystery she could only glimpse, never fully reach. But tonight, something had shifted. She leaned in, cautious, aware that this might be one of those rare moments where he allowed himself to be vulnerable, even if only for a moment.

“What do you mean?” she asked, her voice soft, almost a whisper, careful not to break whatever fragile connection had formed between them.

“This,” he said, gesturing out to the city sprawling below them, Gotham stretching endlessly into the dark. “This need to protect it. To keep it from falling apart.” He paused, his hand falling back to his side, and his gaze turned distant, his eyes darkened as if he were somewhere else entirely. “Sometimes I wonder if it’ll ever be enough. If anything I do will ever be enough.”

Scarlett felt something shift within her as she listened, sensing the depth of his burden. She could see it in the way his gaze lingered on the skyline, the city that had shaped him and scarred him in equal measure. But tonight, there was something different—a vulnerability that clung to him, making him seem less like Gotham’s mythic hero and more like a man struggling to hold himself together.

“Gotham’s… always been home,” he continued, his voice barely above a whisper. “But it’s also the place that took everything from me. My parents. My sense of safety. There are nights when I feel like I’m fighting against something impossible, trying to save a city that doesn’t even want to be saved.”

Scarlett’s heart twisted as she listened. She knew the story of his parents—everyone in Gotham did. But hearing him speak of them, feeling the anguish woven into each word, made him feel heartbreakingly real. She understood, then, that his mission wasn’t just about Gotham; it was about trying to fill the void that had been left in him as a child, a promise he’d made to himself to never feel powerless again.

“When I was young, I thought the world was safe. That it would always protect me.” He laughed then, a hollow sound that seemed to echo into the night. “But that night—” His voice faltered, and his face hardened as he looked out over the city. “Everything I thought I knew, everything I believed, it all disappeared in an instant. I realized that no one was going to protect me. No one could.”

A chill ran down her spine, her own heart breaking for the boy he must have been, the boy forced to grow up in a single, shattering moment. She wanted to reach out to him, to bridge the gap between them, but she sensed he would only pull away. So instead, she let the silence linger, allowing him the space to speak, to collect himself.

“And that’s when you decided…” She let her question hang in the air, sensing he would understand, even if she didn’t finish it.

“Yes,” he replied, his tone resolute, though a dark resolve had seeped into his words. “That’s when I knew that if I wanted the world to be safe, I had to make it that way myself. I couldn’t let myself be vulnerable again. I couldn’t let anyone else feel what I felt.”

There was a silence then, a weight that settled over them as his words hung between them, unspoken truths filling the empty space. She could see it etched in his features, the years of pain and anger that had shaped him, the walls he’d built so high even he couldn’t see over them. Batman wasn’t just a mission or a mask; it was the only way he knew how to survive. Yet she sensed that the same armor that protected him had also trapped him, locking away any part of himself that might still feel.

“You carry so much,” she murmured, her voice barely audible, afraid to shatter the fragile openness between them.

He looked at her, his gaze piercing, as if studying her, weighing her understanding. “It’s not something I expect anyone to understand,” he replied quietly, a hint of bitterness in his tone. “Not really. Batman… he’s the only part of me that makes sense. When I'm with him, everything is clear. The purpose, the mission—it’s the one thing that feels real.”

Scarlett felt her breath catch, realizing that Bruce Wayne was little more than a shell, a role he played for the world. Batman was who he truly was. He’d compartmentalized his pain, his trauma, turning it into a weapon, and yet she sensed he’d lost himself in the process. And standing here, she felt herself slip into her own role, crafting herself around his needs, becoming the woman who would understand without question, who could shoulder his darkness with quiet strength.

But beneath her calm exterior, a small voice whispered that she wasn’t here only for him. She was here for herself, too, for the life he could give her, for the chance to build a future free of her past. She was drawn to him, yes, but she had crafted her persona deliberately, adapting herself to fit his world, his desires. She was the “cool girl” who wouldn’t flinch at his shadows, who could meet his intensity with unwavering resolve. It was manipulation, she knew, but a necessary one—one that would allow her to escape Ra’s, to create the life she’d always dreamed of.

Yet as she listened to him speak, something deeper stirred within her, an unexpected tenderness that caught her off guard. She was drawn to his brokenness, to the pain he carried so privately. She wanted to be the person who could understand him, to be the one he turned to when the darkness grew too heavy. She wanted him to trust her, not because she played a role, but because he saw her as the one person who wouldn’t turn away.

“Then why keep up with Bruce Wayne?” she asked, trying to keep her tone light. “Why not let the world see Batman instead?”

He gave a dark, hollow laugh. “Because Bruce Wayne is necessary. He’s a distraction, a mask. If people saw the real me… they’d see the darkness, and that’s not something the world needs.” He looked at her then, his expression hard, yet with a flicker of something vulnerable. “The world doesn’t need me. It needs the myth.”

And in that moment, Scarlett realized that she had lost control of her game. This wasn’t just manipulation anymore. She cared for him, deeply, in ways she hadn’t anticipated. She wanted him to see beyond the mask she wore, to know the woman beneath the facade. But she had built herself around his needs, and now, she was trapped in a role she had created, bound by her own manipulations.

They sat together in silence, watching the city lights flicker in the distance. Finally, his hand brushed over hers, a small, tentative gesture, and her heart quickened. She had crafted herself to be his perfect companion, yes, but somewhere along the way, she had fallen for him. For the man beneath the armor, for his complexity and pain. And in that touch, she allowed herself to hope that maybe, one day, he would see her for who she truly was.

But as the years passed, that hope withered, cracked under the weight of the personas they’d both created. She had molded herself around his darkness, but she had done so at a cost, bound to a man who belonged more to shadows than to her. And now, as she sat beside her sons, aching for the family she’d tried so hard to hold together, Scarlett felt the weight of that night settle over her. She had wanted to be his partner, his equal, but in doing so, she had bound herself to his darkness, forever caught between the woman she truly was and the mask she wore to be loved.

A soft touch on her hand pulls her back to the present, and Scarlett’s gaze meets Jason’s. His anger, always so fierce and relentless, has softened into something raw, something painfully vulnerable. He looks at her with eyes that, despite the walls he’s built, reveal a flicker of the boy he once was, the boy who trusted her implicitly, the boy who had once looked to her for all the safety he could never find in his father’s absence.

“You’re not going anywhere, right?” His voice is barely a whisper, a plea wrapped in bravado, but she can see the fear buried deep beneath it.

A tender smile softens her face as she reaches out, brushing a lock of dark hair from his forehead, just as she had done when he was young. “No, Jay,” she murmurs, her voice steady but gentle, infused with a quiet strength that she knows they all need. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She lets her gaze sweep over each of them, taking in the lines of tension in Damian’s posture, the guarded look in Tim’s eyes, the quiet ache on Dick’s face, the simmering frustration in Duke’s furrowed brow. These were her sons—not bound by blood, but by choice, by the promises she had made to them over the years. And now, looking at each one of them, she knows that, despite everything, she would keep those promises until her last breath.

“Whatever happens, I’m here,” she says softly, letting her words settle into the stillness that’s fallen over them. “I’m here for all of you. Always.”

__________________________________________________________

Prior Chapters:

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3

_____________________________________________________________

Story Timeline and Overview:

_____________________________________________________________

Additional info:

I know Jason never calls Bruce "dad" unless by accident in the comics. I sort of did that vibe. But generally when reading, I want it to read as sarcastic or even him subconsciously doing so. The idea is that underneath it all he does see/consider Bruce his dad and wants a dad. So if I write him saying dad it's a vulnerable moment where he cares and wants love.

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[artistzjay]

May I introduce two of main characters of the book (re: Fanfiction) I’m writing: Isabella Chinen and Hal Jordan.

[super-luna-fic]

Camp Justice - Chapter 1: The Lecture

Back at Mount Justice two hours after the Caedmus Incidence…

The five teens huddled together near the zeta tubes as the League discussed the night's events. Despite being successful during the mission they were never meant to be part of, anxiety plagued their thoughts. The teens knew they had overstepped a line by not only disobeying the League's direct orders but also telling them to either get on board with their plan or get lost. Neither action was acceptable, but they knew they could do nothing to sway the teens' minds. However, the League's compliance wasn't going to stop them from giving them an earful and more once they dispersed to their respective locations.

"What do you think they're talking about?" Wally asked.

"The mission obviously" Cal answered matter of factly.

Wally narrowed his eyes at her, "Oh yeah, and what makes you so sure of that?"

"Oh I don't know, maybe it could be the fact that they literally said they were going to do that BEFORE leaving us here"

"Well duh, of course I knew that. I just wanted to make sure you were paying attention"

It was her turn to glare at him"…You know Wally… I think you might wanna get checked out. You seemed to have lost a few brain cells after getting knocked out"

Dick couldn't help the giggle that escaped which in turn increased Wally's annoyance.

"You little-"

"Quiet!" Kaldur firmly but quietly inserted to cease their bickering, which did anything but that as Wally continued to talk.

"You know Kaldur, you've been pretty silent. Not that it is not normal, I just thought you would give us words of encouragement before we walk into our inevitable doom"

He thought about it for a moment before responding, "I am certain we are overthinking our current situation, I doubt the punishment would be as severe as you are making it"

"Mmm I don't knoow, maybe not for you but some of us might not be so lucky *cough* Robin *cough* Crow"

"While I acknowledge our mentors may have a different way of dealing with our punishment we most certainly will not be walking into our "inevitable doom". Especially those of us who have stricter mentors, right Robin and Crow?"

Kaldur turned to look at them when he didn't receive an immediate answer and noticed they seemed lost in thought.

He cleared his throat before repeating his question, " Right Robin and Crow?"

"Hm? Oh Yea, totally", Cal answered unconvincingly then turned to Dick to whisper "You don't think he's going to tear us a new one when we get back to the cave, do you?"

As though Batman had heard her whispers, he turned his head to glare at the two.

"He's definitely not going to do that" He sarcastically responded.

Their conversation was cut short when the League made their way over to them. Each Leaguer took their team member home with the Batfamily being the last to go.

Dick and Cal shared an uneasy look as Batman input the information to send them back to the cave. At this point, they were considering staying at Mount Justice with Superboy but decided against it knowing it would only prolong the long awaited lecture.

The "ride" to the cave was short and the teens were still met with a silent Bruce. Dick decided enough was enough and tried to break the silence.

"Sooo, how was the meeting?"

Silence

"That bad, huh?"

Silence

Cal elbowed her brother and harshly whispered, "What is wrong with you? Are you trying to provoke him??"

"I don't see you coming up with any bright ideas"

"That may be true but at least I have some common sense"

"Is that so?" Dick asked in a mocking tone.

"As a matter of fact yes"

"What about that incident that happened last week with the Penguin?"

"We don't talk about that"

"Well if you're gonna go the common sense route, I really don't see why not"

"Grayson you aggravate my very sou…."

Bruce's grip on his chair tightened as he listened to the two whisper amongst themselves or at least try to. I mean did they really think he wouldn't be able to hear them? With all the training he put them through they should at least know how to have a conversation discretely especially if the person they're discussing is literally ten feet in front of them. He shook his head as a way to dismiss those thoughts. Right now he needed to focus on how to actually talk to them. Regardless of what some may think of him, he doesn't want to break their spirits or tear them a new one (yes Cal, he did in fact hear your whispers… and everything else). He just wants them to realize that their actions always have consequences, whether it was positive or negative. With that in thought, he turned his chair around in time to see Cal attempting to put Dick in a headlock but stopped the moment she felt his glare on the back of her head. Both quickly detangled their limbs and stood up with an uncomfortable smile.

After a brief stare down Bruce finally spoke.

"You two were given strict orders to stay put. Not only did you disobey them but you also put yourselves and your teammates in a situation that could've ended badly, very quickly."

"We were successful with the mission. We actually did good! Why can't you just believe we're stronger than you think!" Dick argued.

"It's not about believing."

Cal stayed quiet which was uncommon for her but she knew this was a battle they weren't going to win.

"Yes, it is! You always leave us with the small things while you get to have all the fun. What was even the point of training us??"

"You knew what you were getting yourselves into the moment you decided to join me. You are to do as I say, nothing more nothing less."

"We know but-"

"No! You don't! Because if you did you wouldn't have done what you did!"

The two looked down in shame knowing what he was saying was true.

Bruce sighed, "Look, I know you both were only trying to help but there's a reason why we don't let you join certain missions. I can't-" He paused to take a shaky breath. "We can't lose you guys. So if that means making you hate us then so be it."

Bruce wasn't known to show his emotions outwardly for many reasons. The fact that he almost slipped up made Cal and Dick second-guess their actions but that doesn't mean they changed their minds.

Bruce straightened up, "With that being said, the League and I have decided that while we acknowledge the need for a new team, we must be sure you are properly trained to handle that responsibility." The two lit up. Is the League actually listening to them for once?

"Starting July 1st you will begin your training at an undisclosed location with other young current and soon-to-be members."

"Undisclosed location?" Cal asked.

"Yes, no one but the League knows where it is. Your hearing and sight will be restricted by Martian Manhunter just to ensure you don't attempt to figure it out."

"We would never do something so diabolical. We actually follow the rules. Can't say the same for the rest."

"Mhm mhm" said Dick while nodding along.

Batglare activated

"You know that doesn't actually work on us"

Batglare continued

"She's right, we're not kids anymore."

Batglare intensified times 10

"I- We- We'll shut up now"

"As I was saying none of you will know the location, just what it looks like on the inside. You will go through weeks of intense training and the Leaguers and I will determine if you are in fact ready to join the new team."

"So it's like a summer camp but on steroids"

Bruce rolled his eyes, "If that's how you want to think of it. Just know that if you don't meet our standards then you will NOT be joining the team. Is that clear?"

They tried their best to hold in their excitement. Summer camps are fun but a summer camp for superheroes was even better. They couldn't wait till they got there wherever there was. Speaking of…

"I get that we can't know where it's located but can we at least know what it's called?"

"Camp Justice"

"Doesn't sound very intimidating if you ask me. With our training, it'll probably be a breeze. Right Batman?"

"Hmph" was the only response they got before he entered the elevator.

Cal stood there flabbergasted, "I know he did not just 'hmph' me, who does he think he is?"

"Your boss"

"Boss or not, I don't get paid enough to deal with his sass"

"You don't get paid at all"

"Your point?"

Dick rubbed his temples, "Why do you always try to pick a fight with me?"

"Why do you always make it so easy?"

He narrowed his eyes at her, "Anyways, we have three days before we have to leave. I can probably hack the computers to see exactly where this place is."

"What for?"

"Do you really want to go to place where you have no idea of its location?"

"Hm good point boy wonder," She said as she stood next to him as he worked the computers.

"Now if I can just bypass this security wall then we'll be good to g-"

"And what exactly do you two think you're doing?"

The two froze in their place as they heard the familiar voice of their beloved butler.

"Uhh checking the weather for tomorrow," Dick said with an unconvincing grin.

"Lady Cal."

"We were checking the computers for the location of the camp Batman is sending us to."

If there was anyone who could get an answer out of her by just asking it was Alfred (and her mom but that's a different story).

"And why are we doing that? I do believe Master Bruce specifically said you were not allowed to know."

"Because curiosity killed the cat but satisfaction brought it back"

Alfred raised an unimpressed eyebrow, "Go upstairs and eat your dinner."

"But-"

"No buts. You need to relax before you leave."

"So you do know something about it, don't you? C'mon Alfred, please give us a hint."

"You should by now your puppy dog eyes have no effect on me. Now go."

They grumbled about unfairness as they made their way to the elevator.

Alfred turned to look at the computer, "Besides, no amount of hints will prepare you for what's to come…"

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the DC characters or universes. The only characters and universes I own are the ones I create.

DO NOT REPOST

A/N: Here's chapter 1! Thank you for reading it I can't wait to show you all the rest! I'll be posting a chapter a week so be on the lookout! If you have any questions or just want to talk please do send me a message :)

See ya later!

[layan22gaza77]

It is very unfortunate that we have not received any donations within days. Have people become merciless? Have they lost their humanity?🥹🥹

[blu3-ja3]

Start of my short story series, enjoy... Each one has a song I listened to while writing to help me focus. You can listen to it while you read but don't feel like you have to, the song just helps me focus on Jillian as a character. Anyways enjoy!

Warning: Implied sexual assault of a minor, child abuse/neglect and suicidal thoughts. Please do not read if you don't feel comfortable. Please take care of yourself first and foremost, platonic love for you all!

Jillian has always loved running, it's freeing in a way she can't get from anything else. She owes so much to her love of running like her schooling, if her skills in mathematics as a child is what got her into Gotham Private School on Wayne Grants then her athletic ability to run long distance and jump hurdles like it was nothing is what kept Jillian in Gotham's private schools. That and all the grants she qualified for afterwords...

But running didn't just save her academics, it saved Jillian herself. Running and her absolute love of her little ball of black fluff named Queenie. But before he love of running it was just Queenie that kept her going.

Jillian didn't hate her sister Grace before she got with Daniel, Grace wasn't the nicest but she let Jillian stay in Gotham. Even if that meant staying alone, with very little food in the cabinets or fridge. Even if that means the only time Jillian got to see her sister was when Jillian's social worker was stopping by which also meant afterwards Grace would scream and throw things. It was stressful for Grace, Jillian knew that and so she didn't hate her.

Then Grace met Daniel, at first he was really nice to Jillian. She liked him because he would bring Jillian candy or something fancy from a restaurant they went to, he'd ask to hang out with Jillian and Grace. It was nice at the beginning, then he started taking things from Jillian. First it was one of Jillian's stuffed animals, she was young and she thought it was what friends do. Then he started hugging her, longer and longer as time went on, taking more of her time.

When Jillian was 12 he kissed her, at 13 he was touching her shoulders and back. It kept escalating and eventually Jillian got uncomfortable with one of his touches, she went to her sister and told Grace how she felt. Her sister only shrugged her off, told her she was lying and that if Daniel was doing such things Jillian should be grateful because he's the only one who'd ever do it.

Then a month after Jillian turned 15 he took one last thing from Jillian, after she left a note to Grace on her own dresser. That night Jillian couldn't sleep unlike most nights where she could, simply slipping away to dream. For the first time but not the last she pulled on a hoodie and slipped out of her window into the cold February night. Jillian didn't really know what she was doing when she'd climbed up the fire escape to the roof of her building, she did know what she was doing when she started running towards the edge of the building though.

If you asked her then why instead of falling she jumped to the other building she wouldn't be able to tell you. It wasn't her plan originally, now though she rationalizes it by saying she jumped across because of Queenie. Jillian couldn't bring herself to leave her cat for Grace to care for or something like that. But at the time Jillian was fully prepared to not jump across to the next building's roof top. Nor did she plan to continue running and jumping from rooftop to rooftop.

That was Jillian's first night out and when she came back to her room she collapsed into bed. The large fluffy black mass of Queenie came over to her and fell asleep purring on her chest. Jillian was yet again visited by a strange woman in her dreams showing her two strangers and telling her all sorts of insanity that Jillian would desperately try to remember when waking up.

Jillian kept running over the crime alley rooftops when she couldn't sleep, blasting music in her ears so she could ignore the real world and slip into her own world. She couldn't run for very long during the winter and spring because of school but when summer rolled around it was all Jillian did, she even started to free climb the sides of buildings where she could. Grace hadn't been back to Gotham after Daniel took the last piece of Jillian that she had left and then a few weeks into the school semester they'd shown up.

And the night before they left in the morning he came into her room again and ruined what little peace Jillian had scrapped together. That night Jillian ran, she had proof of everything that had happened to her neatly tucked away on her phone and she planned to run until she dropped where or when she didn't care. And she did drop, one last jump and she skidded across the gravel roof of some up town Gotham building.

Jillian just laid there and cried feeling so hollow and empty. She cried so hard that she didn't even notice the woman crouching next to her until there was a hand on her shoulder. Jumping slightly Jillian sat up and came face to face with The Catwoman of Gotham. The woman who stole and ruined so many corrupt men of Gotham, Jillian was sure there was irony somewhere in this.

Catwoman had been following Jillian, watched her jump from roof to roof and had to check on her when Jillian collapsed. They talked for a bit, Jillian never told the woman much of anything just talked about Queenie and vaguely about why Jillian was running around so late at night. Jillian didn't even tell Catwoman her name. Catwoman was kind and kept the conversation going for a while, and when they parted Catwoman told her to take care of herself for Queenie's sake. When Jillian got home it was already sunrise and she had to go to school.

Then a few days later Jillian was kidnapped by a crazy cult, tortured within an inch of her life for days. Nearly became a vessel for the literal sentience and soul of Gotham, received a supposed blessing from said Eldritch being. She was saved by the actual cryptids of Gotham Batman and Robin. Before finally being pulled from her sister's custody and placed into the foster system, only for Jillian to be put into temporary custody of The Bruce Wayne while she went to court over her sister's custody and living every Gotham kids dream of living with Bruce Wayne. And apparently Damian Wayne had Queenie, through a series of events involving her classmate Tim Drake-Wayne mentioning the cat to the boy.

Because of all that chaos as well as the recovery from being tortured and starved Jillian hadn't been running in a while. Well not free running or parkour or whatever it was actually called. She'd taken up running around the manor grounds every morning since she started walking on her own again but she hadn't been out onto Gotham's rooftops and free climbing the sides of buildings. But tonight was that night.

Jillian slipped into her usual outfit, it was the same black hoodie that has cat ears on the hood a staple for this outfit. Jillian pulled on a different pair of gloves that had better grip for free climbing, rather than her normal gloves (psychometry was a bitch and Jillian hated her ability with a passion sometimes). Then just normal black athletic tights and loose shorts with her new running shoes; a gift from Mister Wayne. Jillian gave Queenie a goodbye scratch and grabbed her new skateboard and new phone; also both gifts from the Wayne kids.

She skated down the long and winding road leaving the manor grounds and once close to the street leading to Gotham city center Jillian found somewhere close by to store her board. Finding a dumpster that she could slip her board behind close to the road leading up to the Wayne Manor. Once she was sure her board was well hidden Jillian found a nearby fire escape and started scaling up it.

Jillian placed in one earbud to listen to her music once she was at the top, this would be the first time she'd ever run on the roofs of Gotham City Center. It'd also be the first time Jillian would be running since being kidnapped and once she started it was impossible to stop the catharsis it gave her. It was so absolutely freeing and everything Jillian needed at that moment, it put her at ease. So much so that she didn't notice when she ran past the three shadowy forms crouching above her on the clock tower. Nor did she notice the middle one trailing her after the biggest one gave a nod.

Jillian ran, jumped and climbed until she felt everything boiling up and nearly choking her. So she stopped on the edge of a building overlooking Gotham bay and screamed. She screamed and screamed till her voice was ragged and the tears stopped flowing, she took in a ragged breath, collapsing onto her knees and weeped some more.

"Why are you crying?" Jillian jumped at the voice and figure of Red Robin appearing next to her. She took a moment to collect herself before speaking.

"A lot of reasons dude, things you don't need to know about." She smiled at the boy about her age who sat next to her.

"Talking helps," He said looking straight ahead at the bay, Jillian followed his eye line and just sat next to the boy.

"Someone hurt me, in a way that has cut me so deeply and permanently. I'm not the same as I was because of that cut, some days it's fine and I think it's healing. I think I could go back to who I was before the hurt but then some days it feels like it's deeper and fresher than before. And on the worse days it feels like the cut is infected and festering... On those days I feel like there's nothing left, like I'm hollow and the only thing left for me is... Is to die." She takes a deep breath before swallowing around nothing before Jillian continues.

"But I can't do that; die, because that would leave Queenie alone... And I know that she's with the Wayne's, Damian would take care of her like he did when I was missing but..." Jillian pauses and looks down at her hands, still gloved and jumps slightly when a hand is gently placed on her arm.

"If Queenie is what keeps you going then that's okay, but you've got to talk to somebody about it. Talking to people can help even if it's not in great detail like you just did, some cuts need stitches to heal..." Not once did Jillian look away from her hands clasped tightly together, not while the gauntleted hand was holding her forearm. She didn't trust her psychometry to not show her who was under the mask of Red Robin and Jillian felt that would be such an incredible violation.

Eventually Red Robin lets go and offered to go with her back to Wayne Manor, Jillian agreed before they both stood up from the edge of the building. Jillian just ran like she had before, not particularly caring about the not-really-mythical-crypid vigilante of Gotham was swinging from building to building beside her. Jillian stopped on the first roof and walked down the fire escape. While crouched and reaching behind the dumpster for her board she heard the flapping of fabric and heavy boot falls. When Jillian turned around after retrieving her board, she came face to face with Batman.

"You're out late, I don't think Mister Wayne would approve of your activities Jillian." It's the second time she met and talked to the not fake cryptid Batman but still Jillian is a little freaked out by how deep and flat his voice is.

"Yeah probably... He doesn't really know that I'm out here. I just needed to... I don't know, find some comfort," Jillian sighed not looking up towards the rather imposing man before her.

"And running and jumping across Gotham's rooftops is comforting?" Batman says in such a flat and monotone way that if Jillian didn't look up slightly she would have never had caught the half smile on his face.

"You're one to talk," Jillian mumbled under her breath before saying a bit after the man grunted, "Yes okay! I used to run across the rooftops in Crime Alley when I couldn't sleep, I would wear out my body and be safe from muggings... This was a one time thing cause I'm pretty sure I'm not staying with the Wayne's anyways."

"Why do you say that?" A younger voice came from the left of Batman and standing next to him is little Robin. Jillian laughed a bit despite herself even as Batman grunted again.

"Because despite how nice Bruce Wayne is I doubt he'd actually adopt me once my court case is done, I'm just being temporarily fostered that's it. I'm three years away from being 18, I'm not stupid I know how the foster system works. Besides everyone knows Bruce Wayne just adopts his secret love children who fall on hard times." Jillian rolls her eyes before moving to step past the man and boy, she freezes when a large gauntleted hand shoots out in front of her. It never touches her but none the less Jillian freezes and tenses up instantly.

"Wait, Black Bat and Red Robin will be escorting you back home. Robin and I are going to wait here until they arrive." The hand falls away quickly and Jillian relaxes a bit before moving to lean against the wall of the building, soon Black Bat and Red Robin appear relieving Batman and Robin from their current ordeal. Jillian feels a little like she's being baby sat and she hates it.

"Ready to walk back?" Red Robin asks once Batman and Robin disappear over the building.

"I really don't think this is necessary, I can just skate back on my own." Black Bat shrugs as Jillian rolls her eyes.

"Yeah probably but Bats said to walk you so we're walking you, come on. To Wayne Manor!" Red Robin smiles and points up the hill as Black Bat giggles and Jillian starts to skate away.

It takes some time for them to get up the hill, Jillian cruises around the strange declining turns and pumps her board until she coasts across the driveway of the manor. She moves to climb back up into her room window when someone grabs the back of her hoodie. Turning around Jillian sees Black Bat shaking her head, Jillian huffs yet again and follows them to the front door. Just as Jillian is about to reach and open it the door flies open, standing in a matching set of pajamas is Bruce Wayne. Jillian feels a little guilty because he looks tired and stressed.

"Where have you been? Alfred went to check on Queenie because she was crying in your room and you weren't there? We were so worried about you! Come on, inside!" Jillian started to walk inside, she turned to look over her shoulder and say thank you to the vigilantes but they were gone.

As Jillian stepped inside the whole house was awake, Selina came running down the stairs and pulled Jillian into a hug. Damian and Jason appeared at the top of the stairs hallway before walking down slowly, Duke and Kon came down from the other side of the hallway. Alfred came in from near the kitchen looking tired. Finally Cass and Tim walked out from the front sitting room both in pajamas. They all came and circled around Jillian as Selina pulled back from the hug.

"Where'd you go Jill?" Jason asked. Two months, Jillian has lived with the Wayne's for two months, the first month spent entirely bedridden and recovering from being kidnapped. Two months and the entire household has shown more concern from Jillian's well being than her sister has Jillian's entire life.

"Oh darling! It's okay, you can cry. We're here for you, it'll be okay," Selina whispered into Jillian's hood as she cried, she felt Bruce rubbing circles into upper back as Jillian clung to Selina and cried.

Eventually Jillian was led into the larger den where she sat down next to Selina and Cass, all the boys went around the house and gathered blankets and pillows before coming back into the den. Everyone shuffled and got comfortable. Damian left and came back carrying Queen, following behind him was Alfred the tuxedo cat, Ace the black great dane and Titus the saint bernard he then traded spots with Cass and all the animals curled up next to Jillian and Damian on the couch. Jillian didn't know at the time, she wouldn't find out until later but Bruce finished signing the adoption paperwork that night after everyone had fallen asleep in the den.

Cursed Gotham Masterpost

[xxcocoiiixx]

Pick a fanfic I should write about with little to no context:

Pjo: Daughter of apollo, Ethan Nakamura, two sides of the same coin trope, (reverse timebomb vibes for the arcane girlies)

HOTD: Jacaerys Velaryon x rich girl from Essos, arranged marriage trope, rococo vibes

Batman: Boss x personal assistant, grumpy x sunshine, slow burn

[alexblack1306]

A little debauchery for you. My JJ became a man!

[kawaiigirly21]

DC FANFIC IDEAS

1. Bruce and Clark are at odds when the Kryptonian can't seem to understand the phrase "Off Limits" when it comes to Bruce's new sidekick

2. Natasha is a new member of the Justice League who is mentored by Martian Man Hunter. Her charm and good looks get many of the men horny, and they don't hesitate to tell her either

3. It's a known fact that Kryptonians have a deep primal alien instinct that attracts them to other aliens. And there not much you can do to stop them when they sense an alien moth girl who's ripe for the picking

4. The plot of Superman/ Batman : Public Enemies with moth oc

[bendy113]

gotham city AU time

i had an idea of drawing something

bonus:

btw the art on top was inspired by a joker & batman art, basically this one:

(by @/sofussy_ on instagram)

[creaturefeaturecommando]

Here’s my DC OC who I ship with Jason Todd. Her name is Tanya Samson and She’s a former Alt Rock Singer who got screwed over by her manager and studio into being remade as popstar princess/diva and has become known as Gotham’s Pop Princess.

She met Jason when she was kidnapped by some goons who were trying to hold her hostage for ransom even though Jason didn’t mean to rescue her, he was searching the warehouse she was kept in while following another lead and found her tied up after he beat up the goons.

Their story is still in beta but their relationship is mostly her getting kidnapped and him saving her and then villains start to think that she’s his girlfriend or something and start kidnapping her in order to get to Red Hood, to the point where she becomes desensitized to it like Roxanne Ritchie from Megamind.

Her Speaking Voice headcanon is Dulcé Sloan

Her singing voice headcanon hasn’t been decided yet but if yall have any ideas let me know

Also let me know if yall want to know more about her

And special thank you to @jennrypan she drew the last picture of Jason and Tanya together, I love her art style, she did Tanya way more justice than I ever could and I just love it and love her and yall better go commission her right now

[armad1ld0]

Jakeward

Some gremlin Love being a menace to society as per usual👍

I covered Ed's face cuz I have art block and it sucked.

[super-luna-fic]

Camp Justice - Chapter 4: The New Girl

The campers made their way to the exit, Cal's group being one of the last to leave since they were closer to the stage After they exited they started to head towards Green Arrows station. How they all ended up together for the first activity was beyond them but they weren't complaining.

After looking at the map posted outside the building they headed toward their destination. Dick and Wally lead the groups and were talking about the Call of Duty game that was just released with the mysterious guy. He was very much confused but they still tried their best to make him feel included. Kaldur, M'gann, Conner, and Maria were talking about what to expect today. Well, M'gann and Kaldur were doing most of the talking. Maria was still trying to recover from embarrassing herself in front of Kaldur and Conner kept to himself. Cal and Roy were straggling behind which was usual for Roy but not Cal. And for that reason, he knew she was up to no good.

She was walking closely behind him gently poking his shoulder. He chose to ignore it at first but then her pokes became more firmer. He closed his hand in a tight fist in an attempt to ground himself but it didn't do much when Cal decided to amp up her antics.

"Psst! Roy!" Cal harshly whispered.

'Just ignore her' he thought, 'acknowledging her would be detrimental to my state of mind'.

"Roy!" she continued to whisper, "Roy stop ignoring me."

Silence

"It is of great importance."

Silence

"It is a matter of life or death!"

He sighed deeply before answering, "I know I'm going to regret asking this but what do you want?"

She smiled, "Just wanted to see how my best friend was doing. I haven't seen you since you left that day."

"Well I'm here, aren't I? Though I'm not even sure why. So what's the problem."

Cal pinched the bridge of her nose, a habit she picked up from Bruce whenever she was being 'difficult'.

"You know what I mean. You stormed off and none of us could find you for days. We were really worried about you Roy. Where did you even go?"

Roy slumped his shoulders in defeat, "I needed some time alone. I felt betrayed by the one person I looked up to. We worked so hard to finally be taken seriously and all they did was give us access to some glorified public attraction. It was embarrassing. I couldn't take it anymore and I'm sorry I left you guys like that but I wasn't going to just stand there and be humiliated even more."

'He had a point', she thought. That day was supposed to be special and the League blindsided them with that little stunt. Cal was offended of course but she knew at some point they would give them more access. However, it was embarrassing to have the public staring down at you like you were some zoo animal. That hurt the most. And Cal made sure her mother made Bruce aware of it.

"I don't blame ya, that was super embarrassing and if I had to do it all over again I wouldn't even go to that so-called 'initiation' event. But, if we didn't go we wouldn't have gone to that Caedmus mission and we wouldn't have found Superboy. And to top it all off we wouldn't have finally taken a stand and end up here. So I say, maybe the embarrassment was worth it. I mean look at the opportunity we were given. We get to train with just about every member of the Justice League. How often does that happen?"

She looked at Roy who was looking at the ground thoughtfully and was soon looking at her when she nudged his shoulder.

She smiled, "Look at it this way you get to train with your besties, learn from some of the greatest heroes, and make new friends because we all know you don't have any others."

Roy felt his smile instantly drop, "Why do you always find the need to ruin the moment?"

"Would I be me if I didn't?"

"Point taken."

They continued to talk about other things until they got to the station. It was a building that had a medieval feel to it and there was only one person in the Justice League who would have that kind of theme. They attempted to go through the door but found it locked assuming he wasn't ready for them to go in yet. They waited outside while other campers arrived as well. Dick was scanning the crowd to see if he could recognize anyone. However, when his eyes landed on a particular camper, he felt an impending headache coming on.

"Oh no," He muttered under his breath. Dick knew the chances of a fight breaking out were highly possible and was conflicted on whether he should ignore it or prevent it.

Unfortunately, he was too late for the latter for Cal had laid her eyes upon that same camper. And her reaction was anything but pleasant.

"Well, would you look at what the cat dragged in?" Cal announced in a condescending tone.

The camper snapped her head in the direction of the voice. A voice she remembered all too well.

"Callan," She said between gritted teeth.

"Artemis" Cal responded with a smirk, "Didn't expect to find you here, thought Green Arrow had gotten tired of wasting his time on you."

"You think you're something special, don't you?"

"I don't think. I know."

"Pretty stuck-up attitude for someone who always needs saving from the big bad bat. I'm not even sure how you were able to get in here."

"You're one to talk. You can't even do half the things I do. That's probably why he still keeps you around. Wittle Artemis, too weak to go out on her own."

Artemis narrowed her eyes, "I'll put. you. down."

Cal stepped closer, "In your dreams archer. In your dreams."

At this point, they were almost nose to nose. The tension was so thick it was becoming suffocating. Everyone was watching, waiting for one of them to throw the first punch. Which never came as the door opened and out came Green Arrow. A smile on his face unaware of the commotion that was about to commence had he not shown up.

Cal and Artemis swiftly positioned themselves to face Green Arrow with beaming smiles. They did not want him to know what was about to go down or their unending hatred for each other. Fortunately for them, he didn't seem to notice a thing.

Everyone's attention was now on Green Arrow as he started to call in the next group.

"Okay! Now let's see who's first on my list… Ah!" He pointed towards Cal's group, "You guys come in, Artemis you too, the rest of you go through those gates," He pointed to the wooden gates that were surrounded by even taller wooden walls.

"You will begin your conditioning in there and when this group is done you will then come back here for live-action training, any questions?"

He looked around in case someone raised their hand but no one did.

"Alright then! You guys follow me and the rest of you, go start your conditioning."

The groups broke apart, and Cal's group followed Green Arrow through the door into a dimly lit room. There were a variety of weapons on the walls, all archery-related (no surprise there). However, what intrigued Cal the most was the glass wall that overlooked a rather large dirt-covered field. How they were able to fit that in here was mind-boggling but she decided not to ask. She wasn't in the mood for explanations, she just wanted some action.

"So uncle, what you got for us today?"

"A rather interesting activity Cal, something that I'm sure you guys have never done before."

"Never is a bit of an exaggeration, I mean have you seen the streets of Gotham."

He smiled knowing good and well that what he had planned was way worse than what Gotham had to offer, "I have and I'm telling you you'll wish you were there instead."

He clapped his hands together, "Now onto what you will be doing, you see that field out there," He pointed to the dirt field.

"You will be in groups of five, the goal of the exercise is to retrieve that golden arrow and hit that button all the way up there with it. You will, of course, need to hit it smack dab in the middle or it will bounce off. If that arrow gets destroyed before hitting its target then you all fail."

'Sounds easy enough' they all thought.

"Aaand you will be doing this over lava while fighting off live flesh-eating creatures."

"A live what now?" The deadpanned look Cal gave Ollie made him chuckle. He knew she thought her training with Batman would help her to breeze through the camp activities. Little did she know he was the easiest of them all.

"And what lava? I don't see any lava." Ollie pressed a random button on the wall and in an instant, the dirt-field became a lava river with a couple of elevated rocks protruding out of it.

"Oh. That lava."

"Now onto teams! Robin, Aqualad, Speedy, Maria, and M'gann, you're on the blue team. Cal, Wally, Artemis,…"

Cal didn't catch the rest of what Green Arrow was saying the moment she heard Artemis's name. And she wasn't the only one. She noticed Artemis was staring (more like glaring) at her as well. The two refused to break eye contact until they noticed movement in the corner of their eyes indicating that it was time for them to 'suit up' with their team color armor and bow and arrows.

They mirrored the movements of their teammates a bit worried they missed important information. Cal was lucky she had Wally on her team and she had hoped he paid attention long enough to understand.

After she put her armor on, she walked up to help him as he was having trouble putting on his. She questioned him about the parts she missed and thank goodness he actually did pay attention this time. He was able to answer her questions the Wally way which would be confusing to others but she was used to it.

She tied the last string in place and smacked the side of it, "There, all done."

He rubbed his side through the armor, "You know that really wasn't necessary."

"Mmm, yeah it was. Think of it as good luck."

Wally smirked and slung his arm around her right shoulder, wrapping it fully around her front so that his hand was able to touch her other shoulder. This action prompted Cal to be brought in close to his body with almost no room between them and his face only a few centimeters away from hers. Cal then placed her hand on his arm but to everyone's surprise, she did not remove his arm. Instead, she seemed as though she was unbothered by his action and maybe even enjoying it.

"Babe, I don't need luck, I'm one of the fastest heroes alive. You guys are so lucky to have me on your team." He brought her in closer, "I was thinking, when we win this thing, you can give me my reward later."

"Oh yeah and what exactly did you have in mind," Cal said. Playing along with him.

"I was thinking maybe massaging my feet while telling me how great I am, or maybe we could, you know… kiss." He whispered the last part in her ear.

Or at least he thought he did because the moment he said it almost everyone stopped what they were doing. Even though they were staring beforehand, they were not sure how to react. That is except for two particular individuals who had a hint of jealousy in their eyes. And Dick of course who looked at them in disgust. Cal didn't get the opportunity to respond as Green Arrow was standing right behind them towering over the two.

He leaned over enough to match their height placing a hand on Wally's unoccupied shoulder and squeezing hard enough for a cracking nose to be heard.

And in a low but menacing voice, he threatened Wally.

"Wallace Rudolph West you will remove your filthy hands from my niece if you know what's good for you. Or you will no longer be called Kid Flash but Kid Crippled."

Wally released Cal so fast that all she saw was a blur. When she looked up she saw him on the other side of the room standing next to Conner and the mysterious guy.

Green Arrow straightened back up to make the last announcement, "Now that you have on your equipment and have your weapons, gather with your team. You will have one minute to decide on a team captain and everyone's role. Then you will come up with a plan on how to complete the objective. Any questions?"

Maria raised her hand, "What about those of us who have never used a bow and arrow before?"

"And those of us whose weakness is fire and lava?" M'gann chimed in as she pointed to Kaldur and herself.

"That's the point of this exercise. Yes, it was designed to make you work harder and to use things you have never used before. But it was also designed for you to find ways to overcome your weaknesses. You have teammates for a reason, use them. Any more questions?"

No hands were raised this time, "No? Good. Go meet up with your team members and sort everything out. Your time starts now."

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the DC characters or universes. The only characters and universes I own are the ones I create.

DO NOT REPOST

A/N: Thank you for taking your time and reading this chapter! It's my favorite one so far. As noted in the last chapter a second character list will be released after all other new characters are mentioned. I have also updated the first character list. A masterlist will also be released after chapter 5 is released. If you guys have questions or just want to talk feel free to send a message or comment. See ya then! :)