#because Bruce is dead and Clark is in the stars mourning

[frownyalfred]

I like to think that adult!Damian confesses that he’s dating Jon to Alfred and Alfred just looks at him with dawning horror in his eyes and whispers “god, not again” shakes his head, tries to smile, and then says “The similarities between you and your father sometimes are staggering.”

[redpasserines]

Jason and Roy meeting again after Jason’s first death, by yours truly (this is an attempt please don’t yell at me.)

There’s a man, there, in the half light. He’s very tall, broad, dressed like one of those crazy ninjas Dick used to tell him about when he still talked to him. 

The dust falls, and Roy remembers, suddenly, a feeling of elation. Standing, part of a Team. Space, the stars. A phone, a single missed call, ringing. And ringing. And ringing. And Roy remembers it all falling down, too, the way that victory slipped from their fingers like sand, like the fine dirt in a dead boy’s hair a planet away. Them standing around Dick’s trembling body and the phone he’s holding onto like a lifeline, a text appearing, very briefly, on the screen. Black letters on white background. The green texting icon. Bruce. Your brother is dead. And Dick’s phone falling down, almost instantly, breaking on the floor, and he’s out of the room faster than Wally’s ever run, and those words will never stop spinning in Roy’s head. Your brother is dead. Your brother is dead. Your brother is dead. Everything fell down. Oliver, Bruce, Clark, Diana, and all of their promises and dreams and hopes that the Titans would be happier, and invincible, and just better than the League. He’d felt like he was at dozens of funerals at the same time. It felt like he was mourning every person he’d ever loved because it had been years until that ever felt possible. Because Robin was Dick, and Dick is ever infaillible; because Robin was magic, and Jason is Robin, and the magic had just evaporated in their hands like smoke.

Except now the magic’s back. It’s like it was all for nothing. Roy’s struck silent, until he gets in the car with him. He sits there in the passenger seat. 

“Aren’t.. aren’t you supposed to be dead?” He pauses. He waits, desperately, for an explanation. “I’d, uh, I’d be kind of upset if you faked it.” It’s an admission. Jason glances at him. He looks wrong. Roy can see beyond the magic, now, though. It is Jason. 

“Nah, there wasn’t any faking anything. I woke up in my coffin seven months after I died. Stuff happened. Now I’m here.” 

Roy just sits there. Blinks. Looks at the dirt road. Clenches and unclenches his fists. The windshield wipers clean the dust from the windows. Out of the corner of his eyes, he looks at Jason. It’s like he’s eighteen again. 

———————————————-

They climb the stairs of an old building that looks like it would fall apart at any moment. Jason pushes open the door, and on the decrepit couch sits another ghost of his past. She looks at him like the last time they saw each other wasn’t years ago. Nothing feels real.

“Hey, Roy. Long time no see.” Kori smiles softly. 

Roy looks at Jason, then Kori. 

He must look as lost as he feels (nothing feels real) because Kori decides to take pity on him. “I don’t know how much Jason told you.”

Roy stares at her.

“Nothing, I suppose.” She sighs, and side eyes Jason. Jason raises an eyebrow, but doesn’t comment. “Jason found out something. When, well. In the… years between then and now. He trained with people,” and on his right Jason’s jaw tenses, “dangerous people. It doesn’t really matter. Roy, we think, we think- Roy, Lian’s alive.”

Roy breaks out of his shock instantly. Suddenly, blindingly, he’s angry, angry like he hasn’t been in months, lost in a haze like he’s been ever since. “Don’t- don’t.” He doesn’t yell, but it’s a very near thing. He turns around and walk towards the door, until a hand grabs his arm.

“Seriously? We tell you Lian might be alive and you just leave? Aren’t you supposed to be her father?” Jason sneers at him.

Roy almost sends Jason sprawling across the hardwood floor, except Jason got a lot faster in the years Roy hadn’t seen him. Kori stands up.

“ROY! Roy. Please.” She looks at him helplessly, and Roy doesn’t recognize it at first because it’s so unlike the Kori he knew. Helplessness. Maybe that’s what killed them, in the end, helplessness sharpened into the shape of a 4’6” teenager wearing traffic light colored clothes.

“If you’re lying about this, I swear I’ll kill you. If you’re playing a trick-“

“Oh, you think you could take me?”

For a moment, there’s nothing in the world Roy wants more than punch Jason’s smugness off of his face. He settles for a dirty look, however, because Kori is now standing between the both of them, and while he’d been fond of Jason back then, Kori had been a Titan. Whatever it means now, it had meant the whole world back then. 

“Roy, we wouldn’t lie to you about this-“ Kori starts.

“If you knew, why didn’t you tell me earlier? Since-“

“Cause of death: head trauma, remember? Leaves its marks, y’know.”

Can’t he ever shut up? “The smoke killed you. The head trauma-“

Kori cuts him off. “He wasn’t in a great, um, head space, I guess, back then. Come on, Roy, we both can understand that. But he’s sure. And even if he didn’t see what he thought he saw…”

“Look, Arsenal. I died.” Jason scoffs. “There were things I was certain about back then. I came back, and it turns out I was just very, very, wrong, about nearly everything. But here’s something that I have been and will always be sure about: you love Lian. That’s just true. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”

Roy can’t let himself hope. Not about this.

Jason must see that in his eyes, because,  “Come on, Roy. Unfortunately, out of the thousands of people who would’ve been preferable, it was me that came back. But maybe, just maybe, I’m not the only one who gets to live. Maybe your daughter gets that too.”

Roy can’t breathe. 

He can’t even say her name. But he’s also stuck on something else Jason said. Unfortunately. He can’t- he’s looking right in Jason’s eyes, the wrong color but it’s still him, like an awkward instagram filter that badly hides the reality of the original, “When you died, the Titans died too.” It’s the only thing he can say. He can’t talk about Lian. He can barely talk about the Titans. But it’s the best next thing he has to give.

Jason scoffs, and looks to the side. “Nah, man, you guys were already growing up.” 

Except it’s not true. Because Jason dying broke something irreparably in Dick, because Jason dying meant Roy knew Lian’s days were numbered as well, because Jason dying got Donna to leave for a while, which means years for Amazons, to “travel”, because Jason dying made Wally go back to Central, to spend nearly all his time there with his family, because Jason dying ripped something out of each of the Titans. Here’s the thing: Roy will always love them. Roy does believe that in every universe, they’ll meet each other, they’ll be a team, the team. Here’s the other thing: they couldn’t go on like before. The Titans were meant to be. But if Jason was meant to die, then the Titans weren’t meant to last. And Jason doesn’t believe him. Jason just stands there, in the fading light, like his death didn’t take basically every superhero Roy knew from before, full of hope and wonder and a symbol of everything good, and made them so, so brittle. It didn’t matter if they did or didn’t know Jason. Roy wants to yell at this man. You were Robin (everyone loved Robin), you were magic (everyone thought you were indestructible), you were (you died. You weren’t supposed to die. Now everyone can die, Superman can die, Wonder Woman can die, Batman can die, because Robin. Has. Died).

[red-winters]

*Batfam fic-recs

*Some are Tim Drake Centric

**Some links are not working in mobile (and ONLY mobile) for some reason? And some titles that were bolded in the original post are ALSO not displaying on mobile correctly. Idk what to do about that, but you can still look up the fic, I guess.

The Bat’s Crest - livierambles

Note: I will always keep recommending this fic. It’s epic, thrilling, and hilarious and sometimes angsty. Also, everyone is confused, including the ones doing the confusing. Maybe especially the ones doing the confusing. Also, some Tim and Damian bonding, which is always nice.

Summary: Tragedy strikes the hero community when Bruce Wayne commits a crime so heinous even the best start asking for blood. However, as the heroes try to recover from the hit and carry out justice for their friends, a random assortment of people start acting oddly, including the current Speedy Tim Drake, a child hostage in Gotham, and a young man from an unremarkable circus amongst others. All of them seem intent on saving Bruce Wayne from the grasp of the Justice League for no apparent reason, going as far as betraying their previous allegiances.

Unknown to the Justice League, these people are equally confused. Clearly they're stuck in another dimension, but how do they get back? How did they even get here? Who else is stuck in this world? And how long will Tim's patience last? Back home, the Bat was a planetary symbol that struck fear in the hearts of criminals. In this new world, it has no meaning, save for the handful of stranded souls.

In the Shadows - Kieron_ODuibhir

(shortened) Summary:

“I’m not like you.”

The cowl still looked like something he was wearing, but Clark knew it was not. It flexed like skin when Batman narrowed his blank white eyes and said, “I can see you know that.” 

Chirp - AmariT

Summary: Every piece of the signal Tim unlocked revealed more locks, and by the time he broke through the last one, he was already mentally rehearsing his many upcoming talk show appearances. 'Yes,' he told the interviewer, 'it was difficult for me, a ten-year-old genius, to break open the worldwide alien conspiracy. That's why it took a whole hour.'

When the crackling audio started, he expected some weird alien language. Maybe squawks and high-pitched squeals mixed with musical woofs. Maybe they wouldn't talk at all, and images would beam directly into his mind. Maybe they'd talk in practiced English with a Midwestern drawl like their other resident alien.

Instead he heard a low, guttural voice growling out of his computer speakers. "Robin," it said. "Are you in position?"

A Better Cage - Mangaluva

Note: I was absolutely DELIGHTED to see a Young Justice Crossover with the Justice Lords (Earth-50) from the animated Justice League series, which is near and dear to my heart. I admit I haven’t really had much time to hunker down and read this, but even skimming, it’s an intriguing piece of work. Also, Justice Lords.

Summary: Wally's grateful to have woken up at all, really. He just doesn't know what to make of the world he's woken up in. At least they want to find a way to his world as much as he does, if not exactly for the same reasons...

Common People - AmariT

Note: The Bat boys are all Bruce’s blood sons, but it still feels very much like a found family. I haven’t really read everything in this series, but I feel the author has an amazing grip on all the characters. Lovely and heartwarming.

Summary: His whole life, Jason’s mom had told him his dad was Bruce Wayne, but he’d never been dumb enough to actually believe it. They lived in a rundown, one-room apartment in the worst part of town, and in every single picture he’d ever seen of that rich bastard he was wearing a suit or sipping champagne worth more than everything they’d ever owned.

But if he wasn’t Bruce Wayne’s kid, then what the hell was he doing sitting outside the man’s office in Wayne Towers?

Red Robin and the Hood - momoejaku

Note: Haven’t read this in a while, but it made an impression. Though it’s a fic set during the Red Robin arc, it very much is about both Tim and Jason. Plus, it fleshes out the Pru and Z a bit more, too.

Summary: Bruce Wayne is dead. Superman brought back his body, and the family mourned him, holding a quiet funeral in secret so that the legacy of Batman could live on. But not everyone has been able to put him to rest.

Reeling from the loss of Bruce, his identity as Robin and his trust in his family, Tim Drake sets out on a personal quest that will take him across the world to prove what he knows in his heart: that Bruce Wayne is alive.

Though intending to make his way alone, Tim reluctantly accepts help from his predecessor, Jason Todd, who knows from personal experience that death is not always as final as it seems.

Together, they are Red Robin and the Hood.

Liminal Spaces - Calamityjim

Note: Skimmed this only since I’ve been busy, BUT it does look well-written, and I’m always a sucker for alternate dimension/dimension travel intervention-type of fix-its. It’s a very specific trope.

Summary:

Bruce's habit of collecting strays is not limited by dimension.

Or

When Young Justice Batman comes across an angsty, seemingly abandoned by his Batman Tim Drake, he decides to step up to the plate and parent the crap out of him.

Little Bird’s Vengeance - KatHarkness-Katara

Note: Crossover with Avengers. Awesome fic with Tim and Jason and some Outsider POV (via the Avengers) of these dimensional stragglers. I think Tim’s team shows up in the later chapters, too. If you’re reading on mobile, it’s still very much worth reading despite FF.net’s horrible format and abundance of advertisements in the mobile version.

Summary: Why is life never simple? Red Robin's ended up worlds away from home once again, and now what's he to do? What do the Avengers want from him; do SHIELD have another agenda; and is there any way back? Pre-New 52. No slash. Rated for inevitable language/violent themes.

A Displaced Red Robin - dragonprincess1988

Note: Worth reading despite FF.net’s horrible format and abundance of advertisements in the mobile version. Well-written fic! EMOTIONS! I love them. Younger Dick Grayson is adorable, Tim is a competent fixer-upper for other people but not so much himself. He’s kind of angsty and making YJ Dick want to keep him (and YJ Bruce, too, if you read between the lines). On the plus side, seems like he’s making good friends with Young Justice Roy. This fic was written before certain episodes of YJ came out, though, and the fic reflects/will continue to reflect that. Still, I give it five stars.

Author’s Summary: Tim gets transported to the cartoon Young Justice world, and he's not sure he knows how to deal with it. Attention: If you want to know about Artemis or people from Tim's world the final note on my profile is for you. Also, a special thank you to angel-gidget over at Tumblr, who made the wonderful cover art for this story.

The Till-then From the Ever Since - Keiron O_Duibhir

Note: Fandom classic. Definitely a must-read for Batfam fans, in my humble opinion.

Summary: It began, or seemed to begin, with Jason.

Usually that would have meant something in the order of fire and explosion and probably at least one gunshot wound, but for once (as Tim said, sourly), it wasn't actually Jason's fault.

The Wayne Family Ghost - pupeez4eva

Note: Please read this. Especially if you’re sad or anxious or just have time. I couldn’t stop laughing. It’s my go-to cheer-up fic. Absolutely hysterical.

Summary: In which Bruce realizes that having a legally dead son, who regularly hangs around the family, might be slightly problematic. 

Bloodline - chibi_nightowl

Note: Complicated family dynamics, this time centering around Tim, Selina, Bruce and, surprisingly, Damian. Jason and Dick make an appearance as supportive big bros, too. It works. Take a read, it isn’t that long.

Summary:

“Mr. Drake, I can’t think of a better way to say this, so I’ll just be blunt. This file is for your first adoption. By the Drakes.”

Tim blinked. “My what?”

“You were adopted as a newborn by Jack and Janet Drake.”

“Excuse me, but what the fuck are you talking about?”

Talon!Tim AU Series by keeptogethernow

Note: Found family, from a different angle. Cool fic and well-written.

Summary of Tso’ape Mumbichi, first in the series: Ten years ago, two people made a deal with the devil--unlimited funds in exchange for their child. And now it's time to pay up. But there's no way to ensure that the child will cooperate.

Shutterbug Series by goldkirk

Note: Exactly what it says on the tin! Found family.

Summary:

Tim Drake is thirteen, runs the famous BatWatch blog that has spiraled hilariously out of control, has absentee parents that suit his purposes just fine, is training himself to run the streets at night, and is doing absolutely peachy, thank you.

Alfred and Jason disagree, and get Dick and Bruce involved in figuring out their weird next door neighbor kid’s life. Everything goes uphill from there.

Thursday’s Child - anthalogia

Note: Well-written and has found family and Tiny!Tim? Automatic win.

Summary:

He’s not the first child with nowhere else to go that Bruce Wayne has taken in. Dick Grayson was the first and the most high-profile – because no one would have thought Bruce Wayne was interested in ever raising a child, let alone the orphaned son of circus performers – but Jason was maybe just as much of a shock to society for being a street kid who came out of seemingly nowhere. Tim Drake is ordinary by comparison – his parents died in a plane accident. He can’t think of anything very special about him except that he met Bruce a few times when his parents hosted parties to keep in touch with Gotham society.

Or, tiny Tim Drake is adopted by the Waynes a little earlier than scheduled.

We’re Not Driving (How did we get here?) - TimTheToaster

Note: Short and sweet, a little angsty, and then very sweet.

Summary:

Tim stared at his phone, as if that would change what was on the screen.

Dick Grayson @FlyingDGrayson

It took some doing, and in some cases a little blackmail, but we've finally got the whole family together for a movie night! #WayneManor #movienight #familytime #schedulingisanightmare

15 minutes ago

Take It Back Now Y’all - TimTheToaster

Note: And Tiny!Jason has made his appearance. Also, Tim, I am begging you to please take care of yourself—ah, Bruce has made his appearance. Interesting. Also, I gotta say this author is good.

Summary:

There was absolutely no way this sunshine was from Gotham in April.

Not possible.

Which meant, Tim was no longer in Gotham, in April.

(In which Tim finds himself in the past, and tries to do the right thing. It's more complicated than he'd like.)

Takes a Little Time, Takes a Lotta Twine (To Get Us Back Together) - TimTheToaster

Note: Emotional Hurt/Comfort, beginning of reconciliation, and brotherhood. A satisfying, cathartic moment during the Red Robin arc to soothe your heart.

Summary:

Tim was in Gotham.

Tim had pretty specifically been avoiding thinking about Dick as much as possible for the last few weeks.

For the last year, really. No need to open that can of carnivorous worms.

Dick had other plans.

Everybody’s Heard (Bird is the Word) - TimTheToaster

Red Robin Era ANGST, but like, deliciously well-written. Also, protective Dad Bruce is always epic. Light bashing of Green Arrow and BC, though. But considering the situation (in this fic), kind of warranted.

Summary:

5 times Batman heard other heroes talking about his wayward brother,

And 1 time they were talking about his son.

A Choice to Make - scorbusfics

Note: fresh and interesting premise! Cool world building, too.

Summary: They have to choose. Dick and Bruce have to choose one person each to save, and one to disappear through the door.

“Send one of us,” Dick says fiercely, not for the first time. His face is dark and angry and desperate, eyes flicking from brother to brother. “Send one of us instead. I won’t choose.”

“Neither will I,” Bruce says.

But Tim knows.

Secret Places - RenaRoo

It’s ANGST, but the author knows how to use it well. Also, Jason’s line at the end killed me. Damn.

Summary: Tim Drake goes missing. The search to find him begins.

[shobogan]

Comixology is doing a DC Vol One sale, and I need to hype some A LOT of them so:

Preboot:

The New Teen Titans Raven brings the team together, and everything changes.

Justice League International We could all use from laughter in out lives right now.

Wonder Woman: Gods and Mortals Post-Crisis Diana’s origin story.

Wonder Woman by George Perez Collects fourteen issues, along with bonus material.

Suicide Squad The original run, and also the best.

Nightwing Collects both the original mini where Dick settles into his new identity and investigates new angles to his parents’ murder, and the first eight issue where he acclimates to Bludhaven.

Robin: Reborn Collects Tim’s first appearances in Detective Comics and Batman before going into the first five issues of Robin.

Batman: Legacy You’ll want to read Contagion before jumping into this one, but I wanted to include it because it’s deeply underrated and has never been collected before.

Batman: Road to No Man’s Land The prelude to one of Gotham’s very best story arcs.

Batman: No Man’s Land The start of the latest, incredibly thorough edition of trades.

Birds of Prey The first time all of the original BOP specials have been collected.

Batman: New Gotham Greg Rucka explores a post-NML Gotham. 

Batgirl: Silent Knight The first twelve issues of Cass’s series, plus the annual! Amazing deal, honestly.

Superman/Batman Essential reading for anyone who loves their dynamic.

52: New Edition Do you want the story where Batwoman is introduced, Renee becomes the Question and Booster is an undercover selfless hero mourning the love of his life his best friend the love of his life? START HERE. (Yes, many other things also happen, but I have my priorities.)

Wonder Woman by Greg Rucka Collects Wonder Woman: Hiketeia and the first ten issues of his run.

Batwoman: Elegy Kate’s story continues here, in Rucka’s run of Detective Comics.

Checkmate A spy thriller in the wake of Infinite Crisis. (Yes, it’s Rucka again, shush.)

Batgirl: Stephanie Brown The legacy continues.

Batman: Streets of Gotham Paul Dini and Dustin Nguyen, what more could you ask for?

Post Flashpoint:

Batwing: The Lost Kingdom The story of David Zavimbe, the criminally underrated first Batwing.

Gotham Academy In the mood for beautifully drawn high school shenanigans with that unique wacky murderous Gotham flavour? Have I got a series for you.

Gotham Academy: Second Semester

We Are Robin With Bruce Wayne amnesiac, there’s no Batman to defend Gotham. Duke Thomas decides to do it anyway, and he isn’t alone.

Batman and Robin Eternal Cass is reintroduced to the DC universe. Azrael, too. (Look, I’ve got a soft spot for this dorky nineties disaster.)

Detective Comics: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Collects the 934-949, which unfortunately means it stops right before the big anniversary  issues that focuses on Cass (plus Jean-Paul and Luke being shippy as hell), but it’s still a good opportunity to jump into the team book she, Steph and Kate were part of when Rebirth started.

Batman and the Outsiders The team book Cass graduates too, after Tynion’s run on Tec is finished and Hill does an arc of groundwork. (Sadly not included in this trade, but I think it summarises the events pretty well.) If you too were pining for Cass and Duke bonding, this is the book for you.

Batwoman: The Many Arms of Death And this is where Kate went! Great writing, gorgeous arc, beautiful UST with Julia Pennyworth and a brand new frenemy.

Wonder Woman: The Lies Rucka revamps Diana in Rebirth.

Adventures of the Super Sons

Supergirl: Reign of Cyborg Superman Orlando’s Supergirl is very charming, and I think it’s a great way for someone to transition from the show to the comics.

Superman: Action Comics Clark and Lois try to raise their son in a universe that doesn’t belong to them, uncomfortably stepping into the roles of their dead counterparts.

Green Lanterns Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz make the most poignant, hilarious buddy cops.

Young Justice The gang is back together, and they’re drawn by Kris Anka!

Shade, the Changing Girl I’m running out of steam here but just trust me on this

Elseworlds:

DC Elseworlds: Justice League Look, I’m maingly reccing this for Elseworld’s Finest: Supergirl and Batgirl and Justice Riders, which they have very wisely featured on the cover.

DC Comics Bombshells What if a pulpy WWII AU focusing primarily on women that’s gay as hell.

Bombshells United A continuation that introduces the Wonder Girls, Dawnstar and Black Canary.

DC: The New Frontier Darwyn Cooke’s reimagining of the Silver Age.

Gotham City Garage Post-apocalyptic biker AU in which Kara and Babs are sisters and Barda has a mohawk. Not as gay as Bombshells, unfortunately.

The Legends of Wonder Woman A delight re-imagining of Diana’s origin story.

Sensation Comic Featuring Wonder Woman An out-of-universe anthology series. This only collects the first five issues, but look, one of them’s got Oracle in it.

Vertigo:

Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes I don’t know what makes the thirtieth anniversary edition different but I sure did buy it anyway. (Tragically, the originally run of Lucifer isn’t also on sale but look....still worth it.)

The Dreaming Don’t read the description if you haven’t finished Sandman and want to avoid spoilers. 

Swamp Thing by Brian K. Vaughan Starring Tefé Holland. the daughter of Swamp Thing and Abigail Arcane, struggling to figure out just what kind of person she wants to be.

[bahaibrahim93]

Just to continue on from a previous post:

I keep going back to everything Luthor says and hes starting to make sense little by little. It wouldn’t have taken me so long if i wasnt so preoccupied with school.

For starters,

“the red capes are coming”

Could not be referring to superman or darkseid, but instead is his way of mocking the senator’s view that he’s the bad guy for wanting superman dead, and her hearing/galloping will spread that warning. We know from there that he wants superman dead.

“The bittersweet truth among men is having knowledge with no power”

is a quote i ignored every time i saw the movie, when it could be the origin of his mission and the reason for wanting superman dead. Hes one of the biggest brains in the movie, not to mention one of the richer and more resourceful characters. Yet for all his knowledge and money, he was powerless when Zodd struck in Man Of Steel. The quote sounded like it was coming from the heart. He sounded bitter and contemptuous when he said that it is “paradoxical” to have knowledge with no power. Wild guess, but I say he only grew powerful because of his extensive knowledge and believed in his heart of hearts that knowledge is the key to power.

And for my favorite part, his play on the characters the devil and god leaves me hanging all the time.

He keeps referring to superman as god, but then says

“if the mother of a flying demon must be a witch..”

So what was the idea calling superman god then? Was he mocking people for worshiping superman when he was the reason metropolis went through that alien invasion? Was he mocking superman for thinking hes high and mighty above all other humans for intervening in international affairs like what happened in africa? Or Was he channeling his bitterness and hatred of his own powerlessness towards superman or the people who turn to superman as a divine symbol of hope when they feel powerless instead of standing on their own two feet?

Or, better yet, when he says

“the devils don’t come from the hell beneath us, they come from the skies above”,

what does he say about superman? If hes the devil, then it would make sense because he literally came from space (sky above). On the other hand, he was raised on earth, so he could symbolize god or the angel in that painting who come from the ground below or in a sense—from among the people living on the ground.

EVEN MORE CONFUSING, was when in the climax he found out batman and superman teamed against him and unleashed Doomsday:

“If man won’t kill god, the devil will do it”

Technically, he sticks to his belief because Zodd is doomsday and he came from space, just like superman. But Then he calls superman god again! Is this another mockery? Or is it an acknowledgment of superman’s divinity in the idea that he brings hope? Or does he now see that superman is (according to the painting) god or among the angels that rise from the earth to fight the devil?

And if he did see, then why kill superman? Why kill the symbol of hope or god?

This goes back to when he first meets clark as superman:

“Boy, do we have problems down here. The problem of evil in the world. The problem of absolute virtue. The problem of you on top of everything else. Ah, because that’s what god is”

Maybe that’s a problem that he wants solved. Maybe all he wanted was to expose superman for his mortality, and the fraudulent act of giving hope. Maybe by killing hope, Lex Luthor will deliver people to the truth. Or maybe he just wants people to see that superman is not a symbol of innocent hope at all and that just like zodd, he has the blood of every dead metropolitan on his hands.

Instead, the outcome Luthor got was empowering that hope that superman instilled

“If you seek his monument, look around you”

Superman didnt live and die as a messiah, but instead like the best his people had. He was mourned a soldier and hero as superman and a good-hearted man as Clark Kent. Even when his existence was questioned and criticized by every mouthpiece in the US, he still saved people and gave them hope when hope was lost.

“The Bell’s already been rung, and they heard it. Out in the dark, amongst the stars. Ding dong, the god is dead”

One last pain in the ass deed that Luthor does is by killing superman (or maybe by the Doomsday rampage) he signaled the arrival of the devils who will descend from the skies to face the guardian angels of planet earth. The God towering above angels and devils is now dead, so they both prepare for the upcoming war.

It could be the way Lex intended, in the sense that he wanted people of the earth to fight their own battles instead of leaving the burden on superman/alien/another devil/god. It does sound that way since he’s still all smiles and giggles last time i saw him, until he snapped at “the bells cannot be unrung”. Maybe he knows superman can be brought back since he spent a long time learning from krypton’s library databases.

Last thing, Luthor gains in killing batman is that A. Hed have a better chance of Buying the wayne industries shares or whole franchise with Bruce out of his way B. Batman is an American and a billionaire who did a lot of good as Bruce wayne. killing him will convince people that superman was never on their side

god is tribal; god takes sides

Killing batman will kill the illusion of hope people saw in superman and see him as an absolute threat or as Lex intended, an “all-powerful god”.

Anyways, this is the end of my conspiracy ranting. So many maybes. I’m never getting a definite answer. Even being wrong has its own satisfaction.

[that-shamrock-vibe]

TV Review: Crisis on Infinite Earths (Spoilers)

Part Two: Batwoman

Spoiler Warning: I am posting this review the day after the episode airs in the U.S. so if you haven’t yet seen the episode or are waiting to watch the crossover all in on, don’t read on until you have.

Overview:

I was right, and I’m so annoyed they couldn’t keep the high momentum of the first episode here. Where Part One felt like an epic and grand high-stakes crossover opener, Part Two feels more like the typical and somewhat formulaic Arrowverse episode. The problem with that is, it’s supposed to be both! I don’t quite get how the episode that had the most elements I was looking forward to fizzled this much.

But now with the true enemy finally revealing himself, and the promise of more Paragons to find, can Crisis save itself while it destroys the Multiverse?

Avenging the Fallen:

So the episode opens with the three main women of the Arrowverse, Kara, Sara and Kate, drinking in memory of Oliver. I have to say, I know this is a Batwoman episode and these three women in particular do often preach girl power and all that, but the fact Ray isn’t there at least does just make it seem like they wanted this girl power moment, and as Kate said, the Multiverse is still in danger.

As I mentioned when talking about Batwoman in my Elseworlds review, there were problems that fortunately have been fixed by Batwoman the TV series mostly, I still don’t like the fact she’s not a red head, I still don’t like how similar Ruby Rose and Erin Richards look because it’s distracting to me. Even a choppy bob style as Kate has in the comics would differentiate the two more for me.

That being said, Ruby Rose sold the dry cynical humour here as she does in her own series. I loved how she left the drink here but later wished she hadn’t, in that same scene when the Monitor reveals Batman’s secret identity how she demands discretion from the team was funny, Kara finding Earth-99 Luke Fox attractive and Kate finding it weird I thought was hilarious and Ruby Rose sold that very well for me.

Also, for all Kara’s mourning about her lost planet, there was no confirmation on where Alex, Brainy, J’onn, Nia, Kelly or Lena were after the climax of Part One. I know Brainy and I think J’onn are in future parts of this crossover but it would have been good for a side comment saying where they are.

Speaking of mourning, my god Mia goes hard here. It’s funny because in last week’s episode of Arrow, Oliver was all for Diggle finding a way to get Mia and William back to 2040, yet Mia is still around and making understandably emotion-driven but drastic decisions and both Barry and Sara, who are supposed to be older, wiser and more level-headed particularly in this area, are going along with it.

Barry especially, I believe, feels that if he can help Oliver cheat his fate then maybe he can as well considering that Iris has now got the idea that with The Monitor being wrong about how Oliver died maybe Barry won’t die either, that’s just stupid to give someone who has already accepted his fate and has been known to make the stupidest decisions going (Flashpoint) when he feels he can change it. 

Mia decides to use a Lazarus Pit to resurrect Oliver and, like I said, both Barry and Sara agree. Sara does need some convincing I grant you and Caity Lotz does sell that she is never fully on-board with the idea, and why would she be because she knows first hand what the pits do.

I did appreciate the Nyssa mention, I just wish she had been their guide to the pit on Earth-18, instead we get a mini-fight between Mia, Sara and an unaltered Jonah Hex.

I did kind of guess Hex would appear as soon as the location was revealed as North Dakota, and to be fair I didn’t really see where Jonah Hex would fit into this crossover, so I am glad they found a space for him.

I also like that Constantine has something to do finally, because I am tired of just seeing Sara and Ray, as much as I love Sara and tolerate Ray, it’s called Legends of Tomorrow and currently I think has the biggest main cast out of these shows...so why am I being drip-fed Legends with now the addition of Constantine and Mick...again I do enjoy both of them but give me the god damn team.

Barry and Constantine bring Oliver to the Lazarus Pit and, as expected, Oliver emerges as an out of control rage monster that Stephen Amell does not sell quite as well as Caity Lotz or Willa Holland previously have.

I guessed Oliver would somehow be brought back, because while the Arrowverse execs try to say “We killed him off in part one to show no one is safe”, it was an eye-roll for me because you’re not going to kill the original main star of the Arrowverse in the first part.

My only issue with it is it happened so quickly, there was no time really to miss him because he was dead at the end of part one and suddenly they’re talking about bringing him back.

Sara had an entire season between death and resurrection and Thea’s resurrection came with great sacrifice on Oliver’s part joining the League of Assassins. Here, we had Constantine saying that the antimatter was making him lose his magic so he couldn’t bring back Oliver’s soul like he did for Sara, which only makes me wonder why they’re wasting time trying to bring someone back rather than stopping existence from dying.

Paragon Pursuit - Bat of the Future:

Okay so, apparently The Monitor has recently discovered seven Paragons across the Multiverse that can come together to defeat the Anti-Monitor. He knows this from retrieving the Book of Destiny from the timeline which was the McGuffin in Elseworlds last year.

Fortunately four of these paragons are known to The Monitor, the Paragon of Hope is Kara Zor-El and the Paragon of Destiny is Sara Lance. I got why this worked because Supergirl’s main brand is all about hope and she’s from a parallel world while Sara is of Earth-1 tying into the fact these seven Paragons are spread across the multiverse.

The Monitor tells the team that two more Paragons are to be found on different Earths, the first is the Bat of the Future on Earth-99 which Mar-Novu name drops as Bruce Wayne, much to Ray’s surprise and Kate’s annoyance.

Again I am actually enjoying Brandon Routh in this crossover, and cannot understand why he isn’t at this level on his own show.

Kate and Kara go to Earth-99 where they come across a dilapidated Wayne Manor, which looks more dishevelled than the one from the DCEU, and meet Earth-99 Luke Fox...who I had to double-take to ensure it was in fact Camrus Johnson partly because of how different he looks not geeked up and also because he is the only other main character of Batwoman to appear in this Batwoman episode.

Now I get that none of the other supporting players are vigilantes at this point, but not even Earth-1 Luke Fox making an appearance is slightly unfair, and you could argue that during Invasion! None of Supergirl’s supporting players were involved, but Supergirl still had an episode in that week which featured its main cast.

Again also Kate’s reaction to Kara finding this Luke attractive was probably my favourite moment in the episode.

Once forcing their way inside, Kate and Kara meet Earth-99 Batman, Mr. Kevin Conroy. I was so looking forward to seeing this veteran Batman voice actor in live-action and when you don’t see him talking, he sounds a lot like Batman of the DCAU, the only problem is I was promised Kingdom Come Batman and didn’t really get that.

I don’t know Kingdom Come that well but I thought Batman was supposed to be the main force of good left in the world, yet not only is he killing his rogues as displayed in his trophy case, including a Riddler cane which I also own, but he also killed Superman.

It’s at this point that Kate and Kara realise that this Batman is not the Paragon of Courage they were sent to retrieve and at that point Batman turns on Supergirl apparently hating Kryptonians.

Now this is where it gets interesting because before this, there is actually some good character moments for Bruce and Kate where Bruce tries to make Kate see that where he is in his mindset is where she should be, not trusting anyone, not believing in anything, just becoming the night basically.

It echoes similarly to what Lex Luthor tried to install in Lena last season which eventually worked as we know and it apparently maybe worked here because, even though Kate saved Kara from her doppleganger cousin, she still kept that Kryptonite wrist strap of his...what does she plan on doing?

Anyway before the Kryptonite reveal, we see Kate and Kara return to base where they tell The Monitor they failed retrieving the Paragon, but The Monitor reveals that the Bat of the Future and the Paragon of Courage is in fact Kate herself.

I don’t know how to feel about this, I love the fact Batwoman is being spotlighted even though she is the new girl, however, it does seem like the only reason she is the Paragon is because this is her show.

Also to have two Paragons from the same Earth? Not exactly far spread out.

Paragon Pursuit - Reign of the Supermen:

While Kate and Kara are on Earth-99, Earth 38′s Clark and Lois, and Iris for some reason, scourer the Multiverse for the Paragon of Truth, which is revealed to be a Superman...but which Superman.

Well just before they head off a spanner is thrown into the works in the form of Earth-38s Lex Luthor. We knew Jon Cryer would be back, I thought he would have returned in the Supergirl episode but we also see at least three other versions of Superman here so why not.

Anyway Lex steals the Book of Destiny because the Monitor apparently brought him back to be duped by the supervillain, shocker, and Lex travels the Multiverse killing off Supermen.

Clark, Lois and Iris first arrive on Earth-75 where they are too late because Earth-38 Lex has already killed this version of Superman who lies dead on the big screen with his Lois mourning the loss.

Their second attempt sees them arrive on Earth-167, which is the vaguest Easter-Egg reference going as it refers to Smallville co-producer Al Gough’s year of birth 1967...

When Tom Welling said he and Erica Durance were only in one scene they weren’t kidding, however I loved it. I am a massive Smallville fan, it was my proper Superman introduction, these versions of Clark and Lois are my Clark and Lois and that’s not going to change.

The decision for Clark not to have powers here is a weird one because they highlighted the fact that the Smallville Comics which followed the TV series would count as canon, yet aside from returning to the Kent Farm nothing we learn about Clark and Lois here was mentioned in the comics.

Also Clark and Lois have daughters, I’m not sure who they’re supposed to be but I’ve only ever known them to have a son...Jonathan...and since when did all the Supermen need to be Superdaddies anyway?

Anyway Earth-38 Lex shows up and Clark has the great confusion of wondering why Jon Cryer doesn’t look like Michael Rosenbaum, it is again sad that Rosenbaum didn’t reprise the role, but to have a Lex Luthor going up against multiple Supermen was still quite cool.

When Clark reveals he gave up his powers, most likely to be a father and family man, it did just seem like a cheat way for the writers to say “Yeah we have Smallville’s Clark Kent, but he won’t be part of the action”. Which as a Smallville fan is painful because I wanted to see Tom Welling in the tights, flights and action!

Also once Lex and the heroes disappear, Smallville’s Lois arrives and I have to say, she looks exactly the same as she did back in 2011 but different to how she looks as Alura Zor-El. Maybe it’s the choice of farm clothes as opposed to regal dresses but this is Lois Lane I had through my teen years, everything from the fashion to the hair, to the voice. I wasn’t crazy about the laugh because it seemed a bit forced, but she called him Smallville straight after and spoke in her high-energised way so I was happy.

The final stop was on Earth-96 which is a reference to the year the Kingdom Come storyline came out, it was confirmed that Brandon Routh would be Kingdom Come Superman but also the version of Superman from 2006 Superman Returns which Routh starred in.

We meet, or are reacquainted with,Routh’s version of Clark Kent. I have to admit I never much cared for Superman Returns, possibly because Smallville was on at the time and that version had already won me over. But I do know that Brandon Routh drew a lot of inspiration from Christopher Reeves and his portrayal of the character and you can clearly see that in both his fashion and acting.

I want to say it’s sad to see that pretty much all of Superman’s supporting staff at the Daily Planet are dead, Sam Huntington in my opinion was a decent Jimmy Olsen, but if this was Smallville’s Daily Planet staff all killed I’d be distraught.

Again I am comparing a lot but they are literally scenes apart from each other here.

Anyway, just as it’s confirmed that Brandon Routh’s Superman is the Paragon of Truth, Lex Luthor appears and decides he’s fed up with killing Supermen...we’ve only seen him kill one but there you go, and decides to turn Kingdom Come Superman against Earth-38 Superman in order for his now puppet to kill the other one.

I have to say, this was another weak battle sequence, I know it’s really CGI with two Supermen flying around, but neither Brandon Routh or Tyler Hoechlin have really sold flying as Superman to me that well anyway.

Lois finally does something and knocks Lex unconscious while she and Iris, who I cannot understand why she even came along at all, try to use the Book of Destiny to fix Kingdom Come Superman.

Eventually Lois gets through to KCS by appealing to his love for humanity and for his lost Lois. This breaks him free of the book’s control just in time before he snaps Earth-38 Superman’s neck.

With Lex detained, the heroes all return to base where they set up a machine to search for the rest of the Paragons. 

Harbinger’s Headache:

This sounds stupid but genuinely is what happens, since the start of the episode when Mar-Novu reveals the Book of Destiny, Harbinger starts to get headaches, this does alert her to the fact Lex Luthor is stealing the book but also puts her in the pathway of the Anti-Monitor.

Yes we finally see the big bad of the crossover in all his...glory? He looks ridiculous! His concept artwork does make him look like Oscar Isaac’s Apocalypse but the actual thing we get just looks ugly.

I will give a minor positive and say it is better to see him in the show than he looks on the promotional images because I get the feeling lighting is not this guy’s friend and we meet him in what looks like the hallway of S.T.A.R. Labs.

Mick Rory, Baby Whisperer:

Again, this sounds stupid, but I wanted to highlight this for a couple of reasons and to spotlight Legends of Tomorrow because it doesn’t look like this crossover is doing that.

Firstly, this Mick Rory isn’t our Mick Rory, this is in fact the Mick Rory of Earth-74...why is it called Earth-74? I don’t know because originally there were only supposed to be 52 Earths, then Earth-X came about and now we have Earth-167 so I’m making my peace with them making it up as they go along.

Anyway, Dominic Purcell has grown on me since he was first introduced on The Flash. I think once you accept the fact that DC’s Legends of Tomorrow is essentially a piss-take because that is what it’s become then you accept why the characters do what they do, and not only turning a Flash rogue into a hero/legend is understood but also having him be a writer, have a rat as a pet and be good with babies is also understood.

We see that Earth-74 has a Waverider and did have its own version of the Legends before they all disbanded, Mick has taken command of the Waverider as seemingly his home where he is a struggling writer and his only companion is the Waverider’s A.I. Leonard...Wentworth Miller is back! As a disembodied voice, I would have liked to have at least seen his floating blue head but no we get the voice which is fine by me to be honest.

Once Harbinger commandeers the Waverider ad brings it to Earth-1 with Mick on board, he seemingly becomes the only person on board who Jonathan won’t cry for...not his mum, not his dad, not his aunt...a gun wielding alcoholic hot-head...great choice kid.

It is the lowest form of comedy side-story going but it is still nice to see them at least attempt to include the Legends and particularly Wentworth Miller in some form.

Easter-Eggs:

Superman III:

Alright so this is a clever throwback as this version of Superman Brandon Routh is portraying may be repackaged as Kingdom Come Superman, but he is also the same Superman Routh portrayed in 2006′s Superman Returns, who in turn is the same Superman Christopher Reeve played during the 80s, one movie Reeves was in was Superman III where Superman’s human and Kryptonian sides physically fought each other.

This plot point has also been done in Smallville briefly during the opening episode of Season 4 but not to the same degree as here or Superman III.

Smallville:

So many Smallville Easter-Eggs in one small scene, the first was the mention of Smallville’s Lex Luthor being the President of the United States of America. In a vision of the future Lex Luthor was indeed president and during the flashforward epilogue of the Smallville finalé he was running for president.

I also appreciated the time joke that Lois made when she said that it’s taken about a decade for Clark to “make a funny”. In real-time it has been almost a decade since Smallville finished as it was 2011, whereas now it is 2019.

Captain Cold:

Some things never change and whether he’s a doppleganger of the original or an A.I. version of the man, Wentworth Miller’s charm oozes out.

When Harbinger arrives on the Earth-47 Waverider, she notes that she is aware of who the A.I. is and he responds with his classic line “Always pleased to meet a fan”, this he has said a couple of times firstly in Season 1 of The Flash and then again with the Legends.

This was a great episode on reflection but in terms of ramping up the drama and grandeur of the crossover it did need work. Hopefully it’s only a minor bump before tonight’s third part, which promises a sizeable cliffhanger before the Christmas break.

So that’s my review of Crisis on Infinite Earths: Batwoman, what did you guys think? Post your comments and check out more DC TV Reviews as well as other TV Reviews and posts.

[toughguywithbossygirlfriend]

What is the great difference between some “WonderTrev Fans” and Bruce Wayne ?

When you try to search “anti wonderbat”, tumblr tells you that a “Related :” search would be “wondertrev” or “steve trevor” ... If you try “anti wondertrev” there is no related search ... Telling no ? ... obviously WonderBat people are much more mature and open minded ...

So there are these “Wondertrev fans”, a lot actually, who pretend to love Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor. Fans that just want that :

(edit from an Instagram pic of @562comics)

A eternal life of mourning a dead man ...make me think of Sisyphus or Prometheus. This ship looks more like a punishment than true love (they love Steve Trevor but obviously not so much Diana Prince).

In comparison Bruce Wayne, once he is gone, wants her to find happiness again even she’d fall in love with his best friend, Clark Kent. That is “True Love” !

(JL #90 : Resolutions - A very very old Bruce prepared to leave this earth)

I like WonderTrev in the movie but I’m a much greater fan of WonderBat anywhere else (comics, movie, animation,..).

But even if I prefer Diana with Bruce, I am convinced that the movie Steve Trevor is man enough to share the same point of view as Bruce Wayne regarding Diana’s happiness.

I imagine that any good man, even without being a hero, would be happy and even honored to know that, after his death, Diana waited 100 years before she found the right man to love again and chose to give up her heart to best Man on earth. A normal man,  good hearted, generous, loyal and noble, who as a kid had to go through Hell but nonetheless loves truth, Justice and Life as much as Diana. A man with no extra-powers, but is still able to fight with the “Justice League”, side by side with the most powerful beings of the world, people who are his friends but still respect him so much they call him “boss” and grant him the leadership of the League.

(Rebirth : Justice League #34)

Anyway are these hateful people believing you can force Diana into something ? No, So, the only thing I would expect Diana to tell all these so called “WonderTrev Fans” is :

(edit from an Instagram pic of @562comics)

So I am not going to post that on either tags, “wondertrev” or “steve trevor”, because they are too polluted ... anyway both tags will be cleansed the next time Chris Pine has a new love interest as Star Trek’s Captain Kirk or in any other movie ... maybe they should have created a WonderPine tag or WonderKirk tag... to keep the DC related posts cleared for real fans who know that Steve Trevor is only a “supporting character” to Wonder Woman much like Alfred Pennyworth, Commissioner Gordon or Vicky Vale to Batman ...

Unlike Lois Lane, Steve Trevor and Selina Kyle are both mentioned in DC Comics character definition as “occasional” love interests of their related Superheroes. But I have to confess that Catwoman does a hell of a better job in her Romance with Batman than Trevor with Diana. Tom King starts to do a better Batman but he is still a killer at writing the BatCat romance, King makes it hard not to fall for them ... fortunately,  as long as she keeps up her criminal activities there is no chance it ever gets a new “Lois and Clark” love story ... Can someone please tell Maxwell Lord to mind control Tom King into writing WonderBat instead ?

[camsthisky]

Teach Me to Dream - Part 5

Determine Your Reality

Part 1 | Part 2  | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Next arc >

Summary: Dick’s eleven. Not thirteen and eager to prove himself. Not seventeen and mourning a brother. Not nineteen and wishing his best friend wasn’t dead and Bruce would look him in the eyes. He’s only eleven. So why does he remember all of that?

ao3 | ff.net

“I thought you said you wanted to do this,” Bruce says, his brows furrowed in what Dick knows to be concern, but others might interpret as frustration or anger. It takes years of practice to nail Bruce’s emotions—Dick’s had practice, of course, but he’s not sure it completely counts—and Dick tries not to wince at the very blunt statement.

Dick says, “I did—I mean, I do. It’s just—”

Just what? Too hard? He’s already been over every possible outcome that could result from telling Bruce. The worst, the best, he’s pretty sure he knows them all. He’s played it out in his head, analyzed the situation. Just like Bruce taught him to do. He’s going to do this. He has to. Only—

It’s hard to get the words out. Usually, he has no problem talking—well, he hadn’t before, buut now it’s impossible to even start at this point.

Bruce’s eyes soften a bit. “I’ll wait.”

“It’s—” Dick cuts himself off again, biting his lip. He’s so frustrated. He just wants this moment over with. He wants Bruce to know. “It’s kind of complicated.”

“Complicated how?

“I…don’t really know how to put it into words,” Dick admits.

He rubs his forehead. His brain is full of these—these memories, he can say, but will Bruce understand everything just by saying that? He can say, Bruce, I remember the future. I remember how I died, but he doesn’t think that will really work, either. It’s too blunt. Dick swallows the lump in his throat and keeps his gaze on the bed.

This is hard. He hadn’t expected it to be easy, but he hasn’t felt this helpless with words since he was five, still tripping over the stilted English syllable of half the circus’ mother language. In fact, he loves words, even if he doesn’t pick them apart the way he used to—

Dick stops, backtracking on that train of thought, because there’s something about it that doesn’t seem quite right. Seven years old, loving words, and—oh. That’s not right, is it? Yes, Dick is fascinated with English, sometimes warping and twisting them around until Alfred gets that displeased grimace on his face, but—he hasn’t stopped. He’d just asked Bruce last week why it’s upset and not downset when you’re feeling sad or discontented—or down. Doesn’t make much sense.

But, he hasn’t stopped. He will, when things get hard—

“So,” Jason says, dropping down next to him. “I heard something from the Replacement this morning that has me questioning my entire reality.” He pauses, looking over at Dick, like he’s expecting Dick to say something, but Dick’s busy. The world’s gone to hell and he doesn’t have a lot of time to spare on small talk. “You listenin’, Goldie?”

“Yes,” Dick says, but he doesn’t spare Jason more than a glance before he’s looking back at his laptop, trying to figure out their next step. It’ll have to be a big one, because right now they’re getting stomped on.

Jason hums, like he doesn’t quite believe Dick, but he won’t call him out on it. Dick’s grateful for that. “You see,” Jason continues, “I was making a joke about ‘feeling the aster’ and our little Timmy had no idea what I was talking about.”

“What’s your point,” Dick sighs.

“My point,” Jason says, sitting up straighter and angrier, which is all he seems to be nowadays, “is that you’ve changed. You don’t do those little word thingies that annoyed me so goddamn much.”

Dick slams his laptop shut, his shoulders tense. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Jason. I’m sorry I had to grow up and smell the roses? I’m sorry that I’ve been too distracted with saving the world to cater to your specific needs? I’m sorry I’m not like how you remember me?”

“You don’t smile anymore,” Jason tells him, and his voice is quiet and even.

“There’s not much reason to smile,” Dick says angrily. “I’ve been mourning you and Wally and I’ve been kicked down so many times, I’m surprising myself each time I get up again. I just—I don’t know what you want from me.”

Jason doesn’t seem to know, either, because he doesn’t say anything. They just sit there in their quiet, basking in each other’s presence. Yes, Dick had mourned Jason. Yes, Dick doesn’t smile much anymore. But at least Jason’s here now.

There are fingers snapping in front of Dick’s face, and he flinches backwards. And then he realizes what just happened to him, and things slide into place.

Bruce is frowning at him as he lowers his arm, and Dick’s heart is hammering in his chest. He doesn’t know what it had looked like to Bruce, but he hopes that it hadn’t been totally and completely obvious that he hadn’t exactly been present for the moment. He’s never had one that long in front of other people—at least, not while being able to stay coherent at the end of it.

“Sorry,” Dick says, because Bruce is still eyeing him. “That’s—it happens sometimes, and I don’t know how to stop it.”

“It didn’t,” Bruce tells him. “Not before.”

“It started two nights ago,” Dick starts—and he pretends like he’s presenting a case. Present the evidence, the facts, and it might be easier for Bruce to swallow. It takes the pressure off somehow. Like he’s channeling Robin, and maybe a little of Nightwing and Batman, too. It makes this a bit easier to try to distance himself from the situation. Use the mask.

Still, he’s not like the other from the memories. He can’t quite filter things as well as the whispers tell him to, so he’s sure that this isn’t going to be perfect. There’s still a chance of just completely breaking down.

“What’s ‘it?’” Bruce asks, his voice quiet. “You’re going to have to give me a little more than just that.”

“Um.” Dick takes a deep breath, and he tries something that he’s been thinking about for a few minutes now. It’s from his memories, and he thinks this might be his best shot of explaining all of this. “Do you, uh, remember when we were marathoning Star Wars? When you were too sick to get out of bed?”

Bruce raises an eyebrow, but doesn’t say anything more than a simple, “Yes.”

“Do you remember what you said? After we finished the last one?” Dick asks.

“’I wish I could still watch these with the same curiosity I had when I’d first seen them,’” Bruce quotes, and it’s word for word. Perfect. Even though Bruce had been down with a bad case of the flu at the time and had barely been able to string together a coherent sentence for almost two days.

“And after you said, ‘The ending is dampened a little when you already know what happens,’ when I said that I wanted to watch Star Wars every movie night for the rest of the year,” Dick says, leaning forward a bit. Because this part is the part that will determine if Dick’s labeled as insane. “Well, imagine our life is Star Wars.”

Bruce’s lips twitch. “Our life is not Star Wars.”

“It’s imaginary,” and Dick’s starting to get nervous now, his stomach rolling and his words coming out with barely a thought about how they’ll sound. “Please use what little you have and pretend that our life is Star Wars.”

Bruce stares at him a moment, assessing him, and Dick can almost see the gears turning, trying to figure out where Dick is taking this. “Okay,” Bruce concedes, and he sounds honest and accepting, and Dick takes that as a good a sign as any. “Our life is Star Wars.”

Dick tries not to shake. He spreads his hands over the duvet underneath him, trying to ground himself somehow before Bruce truly understands what’s happening here, right underneath his nose.

“Alright, so it’s like this,” Dick whispers, and his voice has a slight tremble to it that he’s not sure how to rid himself of. He clears his throat and tries again. “I’s like I’ve—like our life is Star Wars, except I’ve already seen how it ends, and it’s not good. Lots of people die, and it keeps, uh, keeps replaying over for me. Except instead of seeing it all at once, I’m watching it all out of order, and it gets confusing. But I still—the ending’s been spoiled for me.”

Bruce is quiet for a long time. Too long. And Dick can’t make himself look up at Bruce. He’s not even sure his analogy even made any sense. He’s still clutching the blankets underneath him, but he’s proud that he’s managed not to tremble any further than that. Even though it feels like he’s waiting for a death sentence to drop down on his shoulders—or. Another one.

“I think,” Bruce says slowly, after a long while, and when Dick glances up, his eyes are steady and intense, “that you’re going to have to start at the beginning.”

It takes a couple tries, but Dick keeps at it. This is important, and he summons whatever strength he can from himself and from the other. He can do this. He has to.

“I have these memories in my head. Of the future,” Dick says. “I’ve seen a lot of things that haven’t happened, but seem like they could happen. I know things that I shouldn’t. And the memories are really intense. They’re—they’re really scary.”

Dick’s voice breaks at the end of it, and yeah. He’s failed at distancing himself. The tears are right there. His eyes burn. He’s standing right at the edge of something, and Dick doesn’t want to look down in case he sees what he’s brought upon himself. He just hopes it’s not a death drop from one life where’s he happy, to another where he’s stuck in Arkham because he’s insane.

“Dick,” Bruce says, and his voice is strained. Dick squeezes his eyes shut. “That’s not possible.”

“Clark’s an alien,” Dick tells him. His breathing picks up slightly and his eyes open in desperation, and he’s this close to breaking down. He continues. It’s important, he reminds himself. It’s important, and he needs Bruce to believe him. “Wally and Barry an run like a bajillion miles an hour. J’onn is an alien. Jason died and came back to—”

No. He hadn’t. Because Jason hasn’t died yet.

He remembers—

“I know it’s hard,” Bruce tells him, hugging Dick to his chest, “but you can’t blame yourself. You weren’t even there.”

“But I should’ve been,” Dick sobs. “He asked me—I should have gone with him!”

Jason died. But then—

“Jason’s dead,” Bruce says. There’s grief in his face, but it’s not reflected in his voice, and Dick doesn’t understand what’s happening anymore. Jason’s dead? But he’d just seen Jason last week, working with Roy on some adventure. Now he’s dead? “He was taken out on Darkseid’s orders.”

“This doesn’t make any sense,” Dick says, pushing away his own grief, because it’s been stacking up for a while now, and he doesn’t have time to deal with it. Jason, Wally, Barry, Kaldur, Jaime, Artemis, Tim, and now Jason again. And Dick’s already mourned Jason once, and he doesn’t think he can keep doing this. So he pushes it all away. “Why target Red Hood? He’s not a hero.”

“Ra’s Al Ghul told Darkseid and Vandal Savage about his involvement with us,” Bruce says after a moment. He’s staring at Dick like he’s waiting for another break down. But Dick’s run out of tears. He doesn’t have any more time or capacity to grieve for anybody else. He’ll grieve when this is all over. Either that, or he’ll die, and he knows which one is more likely.

“We’re abandoning the Cave,” Bruce says. “Talia and Ra’s both know where everything is, so we’ll use the newest Safe House in the sewers and hide out there until we can regroup.”

Fine. It’s not like half his childhood wasn’t spent in this place. He’ll get over it.

“I’ll go start packing,” Dick tells him, because there’s nothing more to say. It’s necessary to stop Vandal Savage. To stop the Light. To stop Darkseid. It’s necessary, but hell, he wishes it wasn’t.

Dick brings his hands up to cover his face and tries to just breathe.

It’s hard to switch between the him and the memories and him. Dick Grayson, eleven-year-old acrobat living with these things in his head, playing like a movie whenever the think it’s most convenient. He feels like each memory unwinds him, undoes him just a little but more each time they take over.

Those memories, he’s so apathetic. He never wants to be that person, the one who had watched his friends and family die around him and then died himself, but he’s not sure he really has a choice at this point.

He understands what’s happening. He does. But it’s hard to accept, to swallow down the fact the memories are trying to swallow him. He keeps thinking that things have happened when they haven’t, like when he’d thought he’d stopped messing with words, or when he’d thought Jason had already died and come back to life, when he knows that Jason is probably nine-years-old right now, living in Crime Alley without a single clue how messed up life will get.

And if this is going to keep happening, if this is going to get worse, Dick doesn’t know if he’s still going to come out as him at the end of it.

“Dick?” Bruce asks, his voice a touch gentler, and there are hands pulling his own away from his face, and Dick can only look up at Bruce with tears in his eyes. He doesn’t want to fade away and become someone else. He doesn’t want these memories to take him over.

So Bruce has to believe him. He has to.

“I’m not lying,” Dick tells Bruce, twisting his hands so that he’s clutching Bruce’ wrist tightly. Not enough to hurt—though the memories tell him how to, even without the strength to back it up—but enough to force stubborn, butt-headed Bruce Wayne to consider him. “Please, Bruce. You know I’m not! I would never make something like this up!”

“I know you’re telling me what you think is true,” Bruce says, “but we have no idea to know for sure.”

It’s not a I think you’re insane, so Dick takes it. There sounds like there’s more than just that, though, so Dick waits for whatever the verdict will be. He doesn’t know how to convince Bruce any more than he already has. For all that he knows now, there’s so much more that he doesn’t, and he knows that this is screwing him up big time.

He feels—skewed. Off track. Not himself. It’s not a feeling he likes.

Bruce finally sighs and says, “Dick, I think that what you’re saying is impossible, but if there’s anything that I’ve learned from working with the Justice League, and being with you, things that are impossible, don’t always stay that way.

“When you came to the Manor,” Bruce tells him, an intensity in his eyes that Dick can’t look away from,, “I thought that you would turn out like me. Refuse to accept help, refuse to be a child. But you proved me wrong. You were this happy child who was willing to open your heart up again, even right after your parents died. And then you did what Alfred had been trying to do for years. You made me happy.”

Dick can’t see. There are tears blurring his eyes, and he lets go of Bruce’s wrists to wipe at them. He’s never—not in his own or the memories—ever heard Bruce say anything like that. Sometimes Dick still felt like some burden Bruce had taken pity on. But to hear that? To hear that he makes Bruce happy just by being who he is so impossibly heart-warming.

And so impossibly sad.

“I’m sorry,” Dick cries. “Sorry.”

Bruce leans forward and helps wipe the tears from his cheeks, and this time Dick doesn’t mind. Not like he had yesterday. “There’s nothing to be sorry for, kiddo. I don’t understand what you’re going through, but I believe what you’re saying. I believe you.”

“But,” and Dick can barely get the words out now, he’s crying so hard. “But, Bruce. You said I made you happy b-because I’m me, but what if these memories mean I’m not me anymore! I—I—”

“Come here,” Bruce tells him, and Dick wastes no time settling in Bruce’s lap. Bruce tucks Dick’s head under his chin and rocks him back and forth. Bruce has been so touchy these past few days, and Dick knows that that’s probably only because of how weird Dick’s been acting, but it helps. It feels like warmth and love and acceptance wrapped up in Bruce’s arms, and Dick never wants to be let go again. As long as he can keep feeling like this.

“I love you, Bruce,” Dick says, eyes still burning.

Bruce doesn’t say anything. He’s never responded before when Dick’s said it, but Dick knows. This time, however, Bruce clears his throat. “Dick. Hey, kiddo, I’m going to say something, and I just want you to listen for a minute, okay?”

Dick nods, and Bruce takes a deep breath.

“Whatever’s happening to you,” Bruce starts, whispering, “we’ll figure it out. You’re my partner, and partners don’t leave each other hanging, right? And just because you have these…memories. It doesn’t mean that you aren’t you, Dick. It just means that you’ve seen a lot more than other kids your age. That’s—going to be scary, but remember that you have me and Alfred to help you.”

“Sometimes I get stuck in them,” Dick admits, keeping his voice quiet. “And some of them—Bruce.” Dick’s trying not to cry again, but he feels like his heart is about to beat right out of his chest. He can’t breathe—

Savage’s eyes glint down at him, and the blade sinks into his stomach—

“Bruce, I remember dying.”

And like a flip has been switched, Bruce stills, the room goes completely quiet, and there’s a tenseness in the air that hadn’t been there before. Dick’s own body has practically shut down on him, like the shock of saying the words out loud, of admitting them and making them real, has thrown Dick into some kind of delayed shock.

Which can’t be right, because he’d already been in shock over this. He’d had three panic attacks yesterday, he’d sobbed his eyes out, he’d accepted that this is real. But this doesn’t make sense, because it’s all crashing down on him again. Bruce knows, and this is real. Whatever’s happening to him, this is Dick’s reality. Watching himself die over and over again and living with the knowledge that he fails when the entire world is at stake.

“I’m not going to let that happen” Bruce says, and Dick jumps, twisting around to look at Bruce’s determined scowl with wide eyes.

“What?” Dick can’t help but ask. “What do you—What are you talking about?”

“You said you remember dying,” Bruce says, and it’s calm, but there’s anger-rage-betrayal-determination-fear in his eyes, and there’s no talking him down from the decision that he’s already made. A decision Dick doesn’t exactly understand. “I’m not going to let that happen.”

“How are you going to stop it?” Dick asks, too bewildered, to awed, to even think about what the repercussions of this could be.

“I’ll take care of it,” Bruce promises, and Dick feels the tension drain out of his shoulders and make way for relief, because that’s enough for Dick. “And I’ll take care of you, okay? I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

Dick nods numbly. “Okay.”

A few hours later, Dick and Bruce are lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Dick’s, well, he’s worn out. He’d started at the beginning, telling Bruce everything that had happened, everything that he’d seen in the memories, and Bruce had listened. Getting through his death had taken a while, and Dick had had to stop more than once.

But, finally, everything is out in the open, and Dick feels exhausted.

But he also feels—better. Not okay, not by any means, but better than he had before. He thinks it’s because it’s Bruce. Bruce is Batman, and he’s one of the most capable people Dick has met when it comes to extraordinary things. He’d helped form the Justice League for goodness sakes. Bruce knows now, and they’ll figure this out. Together.

He feels silly, though. For thinking that Bruce would be anything less than accepting. Even if Bruce hadn’t believed him, why would Dick think that Bruce would ship him off to Arkham? A prison? No, if anything, Bruce probably would have had his head checked at League Headquarters by the Martian Manhunter or those high-tech machines. Bruce wouldn’t have sent him away.

Bruce heaves a sigh. “How are you feeling?”

Dick shrugs, even though he knows Bruce can’t see him in their positions. “Not as bad as before. It helps that it’s not just in my head anymore.”

“I think we could do with some TV,” Bruce says, pushing himself into a sitting position and turning to Dick. “Star Wars?”

“Sure,” Dick says, because it’s easier to agree than argue for something else when he feels so…drained. “Can we watch it on your laptop?”

Bruce is staring at him again, though, the corners of his lips down into a frown. “Dick. Do you want to watch Star Wars?”

Dick falters. “I said it was fine.”

“Rephrasing the question, what do you want to watch?”

Dick stares and then breaks off eye contact at the weird feeling welling up in his chest. It’s almost foreign after days of heartbreak and anger and rage, but it’s not one he’d easily forget. Happiness. He’s happy. And Dick lets himself smile for the first time since he’d woken up, unable to breathe as an entire future played out in his head.

The smile is small and edged with so many of the other emotions that have managed to stay with him since he’d first gotten these memories, but it’s a smile, and he feels something more like himself than he has in two days.

It’s like waking up Christmas morning to the smell of Alfred’s pancakes and hot cocoa, and the sound of Bruce’s warm, deep voice as he converses with Alfred, waiting for Dick to finally wake up so they can open presents and just…just be happy.

“Can we watch those old funny black and white movies you like?” Dick asks, sneaking a glance at Bruce. His eyes meet an expression of warmth and joy, and it makes him smile even wider. “Please, Bruce?”

“Of course,” Bruce says, and the warmth in his eyes is echoed by his voice, and Dick can’t help but think that maybe Bruce is right. Maybe they really will figure this out. Maybe they really will be okay.

[tarantula-hawk-wasp]

Bat Paladin Chapter 3

Voltron / batfam /dc comics crossover

chapter 1

chapter 2 Shiro is Bruce Wayne’s adopted son and part of the batfam AU created by me (I was the anon) and @newtsckamander Chapter 3/ ~10 Word count 3.8k I’m sorry formatting is messy, I posted from mobile

******* In general, things get easier with repetition. Stage actors recite lines over and over until they’re engrained in memory. Athletes develop muscles through use. Accuracy is learned by doing the same shot a thousand times.

Bruce wished grief and loss operated by this principle.

He was no stranger to death. From that fateful night in his childhood when he lost his parents, to friends and young partners, he had buried many people. He had mourned and struggled to move on and coped with so much loss.

And yet, a vast majority of those people he had grieved for had come back. Jason had come back. Stephanie had actually survived. Clark and perhaps half the league had been considered dead at some point. Statistically, Bruce should be skeptical of the validity of any presumed death.

Experience now left him in a rather precarious position. A bit like schrodinger’s cat, Shiro was presumed dead but had a chance of being alive. The question now was which did Bruce focus on. Mourning him under the assumption he was dead like his parents and most of the population, while harbouring the slight and fated-to-be-slowly-crushed hope that presumptions were wrong and he was alive? Or to expect him to be alive and have reality wear down on him with each day of uncertain absence? Either one could destroy him in the long run.

And how long did he search? How far into space until Shiro was truly beyond any hope of finding? Did he continue like a one-track record while his friends agreed to search to his face and then plotted interventions behind his back? And what approach did he take with the rest of the family? Would it be healthier for them to mourn without doubt? Or to harbour hope that he would be found?

Instead of lessening his conundrum, investigation only exacerbated it.

A Justice League investigation of the icy moon had found no evidence of the spaceship crashing. In fact, the vehicle was completely intact. Shiro and the Holts had made it safely to Kerberos and had left their ship in their excursion suits with all the planned equipment.

The first experiment site however, told a darker tale.

Every part of the Kerberos mission was expertly planned. GPS and previous probes had plotted down to the meter where the work was to be conducted.

That exact location was decimated. Something powerful had wrought a swath of destruction that had shredded the ice and rock surface and left only mangled fragments of the metal drill tripod.

The part that left the most questions was the lack of evidence of the crew. No fragments of spacesuits. No helmet shards. No fabric fibers. No bodies. No charred carbon. They were simply gone.

The worst case scenario was that they were dead in some way that left no evidence, but no other matter was missing from the area. Re-arranged, yes, but unaccounted for? No.

Until the Green Lanterns returned from meeting with the Guardians, there was no way to identify any residual alien energy or microparticles they might have found.

Bruce’s desperate hope for his son was alien abduction.

****** A telescope was added to the memorial case.

It looked as out of place as it felt - a mundane object flanked by costume-clad mannequin torsos and propped weaponry. It had been the first gift Bruce had given Shiro. A settling-in present after he’d lived with him for a month and offhandedly mentioned over dinner how many more stars he could see from the Wayne property than the city. So Bruce had bought him a telescope.

It was moderately sized, nothing huge but big enough that Shiro could see some of the fainter and more delicate nebulae.

Shiro had been enamored with it. Astronomy became his nightly activity when he wasn’t helping man the batcomputer, allowing him to be on a schedule more compatible with the family.

Bruce remembered many times when he’d come up from the batcave after patrol to find Shiro clothed but asleep in a chair with a star chart open in his lap, and when woken, he’d drag Bruce to the telescope he’d left outside to show him some Messier object.

It became accepted fact that if there was any sort of high profile event at an observatory or space exhibit, Bruce Wayne would be accompanying his middle son there.

Recently, the observatory had invited Bruce for the first use of a new lens the Wayne family had donated money for a year ago. Bruce declined to attend. The observatory said they understood and expressed their empathy. The tabloids understood his absence too.

One of the truly worst things about a civilian identity was the public relations of when things like this happened. Even if he had a search underway for what really happened to Shiro’s, he still had to deal with the civilian side of things.

When Jason had died it had been easier to keep things low key and although the family had celebrity status then, not there was a whole decade more of notoriety. Shiro had been a public figure as an adult in his own right. And the mere fact he was an adult added levels of complexity.

Like lawyers, and wills.

Shiro’s last will and testament was a harsh, physical reminder that his son was a decade older than Jason had been. Shiro had an impeccable will, drawn up by a Wayne recommended firm.

He left a few sums to various funds, plans for a new charity, and items for his brothers and sisters and for his oft-spoken-of friend Keith.

***

Shiro’s death was public knowledge and scandal, on the news for weeks and then months as the Garrison investigation into the incident continued.

There were three memorials Bruce had felt obligated to attend.

The private one that the Justice League attended, with friends whose raw glances of sympathy were the only ones Bruce found tolerable. They had known Shiro for the decade since his adoption and were also feeling his loss keenly.

There was the public memorial held in Gotham where a crowd turned out and lay flowers and ribbons for one of the city’s famous sons. Gotham had been proud to have famously from her embark on a historic space mission. Shiro’s publicity tour before the mission had been well received. Bruce hadn’t minded saying a few words to the crowd there as much as he feared he would.

Then there was the Garrison memorial attended by both those graduated and attending there.

Shiro’s training team and close friends were sitting in their own section next to the one for families of the team. There was a variety of twenty-somethings and one younger teen that Bruce recognized as Keith.

Bruce had never actually meet Keith. He had heard much about Keith. Shiro had called and told him many stories about Keith, including on the day they had met. Bruce had seen many photos and short videos of Keith. But Bruce had never met Keith in person.

And a memorial was a hard place to start.

After the Garrison speech that waxed poetic on his son’s talents and love of his job and a touching note about how his contributions to science would not be forgotten, Bruce exchanged sympathy with the Holts and intended to introduce himself to the boy. But by then Keith had left. ****** Hal Jordan was standing in his usual civilian clothes and jacket in front of the memorial case staring at the telescope with wet tracks on his face.

Bruce put his coffee mug down on the nearest flat surface.

“I just got back from Oa… Diana told me…” he didn’t turn to look at Bruce. Bruce grunted noncommittally. “I didn’t know… I waved at Pluto as I passed…”

“He would have appreciated that.” Bruce eventually said.

“I’m heading back out. I’ll scan everything. I just- I needed to come here first.” Hal finally faced Bruce, eyes searching. “I keep picturing when he was a kid and he’d follow me around the watchtower asking questions. Every flight back to Earth I’d spend preparing what stories I’d tell him. I was so proud when he aced piloting and when he was selected for this mission, but now I can’t help but fear this was all somehow because of my influence. Piloting… space…”

“Hal… Shiro loved space since long before even I knew him. As much as you’re his favorite Uncle, he was determined on this path since childhood. You can’t blame yourself any more than I can for letting him go to that school.” They were standing next to each other, shoulder to shoulder facing the case again. Hal nodded silently but grateful.

“I’m going to search Kerberos for any clues. Then I’ll go back to Oa to research. If he’s out there, I won’t give up until I’ve found him or the truth.” Hal declared, voice heavy, and then flew out the cave entrance.

* * * * * In the past decade or so, Bruce’s social persona had become more bearable. “Brucie” had transitioned from “ditzy but well-meaning playboy” to “ditzy but well-meaning playboy and father”. His public persona had to appear responsible enough for no one to question his custody of half a dozen youths.

Bruce had found the easiest way to accomplish this was to cultivate a new hobby of showing off his kids at any opportunity. He had a wallet packed with school photos, albums of pics and videos on his phone, and a wealth of stories he could share in any conversation.

Instead of having to convince people that “Brucie” had suddenly become an extremely responsible adult, he could simply start bragging.

“My Cassie is doing triple pirouettes in ballet, I have a video of it right here that you simply must see”

“Look at Damian and his science project! I don’t think our carpets will ever be the same.”

“Shiro sent me this pic from the flight simulator at his astronaut school. He’s top of his class and set a school record for highest score”

It was far more satisfying than bumbling and flirting had been in his younger years. He still winked at the ladies and broke a few wine glasses every now and then, but mostly he blathered about his brood. This had the added benefit of boring and discouraging gold-diggers and those arrogant people who disapproved of the bloodlines of most of his family. Bruce was proud that there was so much to boast about.

Of course now his public reputation as a family-man and celebrity status meant that he had to address what happened on multiple television shows, and magazine interviews, and online forums.

It was a seemingly unending slur of similar statements.

“Shiro knew the risks, it’s like I said in the Kent interview for the Daily Planet, Shiro talked it over with the family, he felt that any danger was worth it and even in his will he reminded us that this was what he wanted to dedicate his life to, however much time that would be.”

“I think - and I’d hope I’d know as his adoptive father - that what Shiro would want for the future of space exploration would be for it to continue. Learn from his mission, make it so the next one is a success. Go beyond Kerberos someday. Meet some aliens.”

“It’s hard on all of us, but we’re trying to get through it as a family, to remember the better times.”

“No, I don’t blame the Garrison, like I’ve said, Shiro accepted the risks and chose that job. Now we have to accept what Shiro wanted. I’ve always said I encourage the kids’ interests and respect their decisions, I can’t stop doing that just because I don’t like the outcome.”

“What do I have to say to the parents of kids who want to be astronauts? Encourage them. Buy them a telescope, watch their eyes light up at night. In fact, that’s why I’m creating the Shiro Space Foundation, to help fund and organize the formation of astronomy clubs in schools. Because that’s what my son would want.”

Slowly the media ran out of similar questions and sympathy statements to use the Wayne name with, but Bruce knew that each release of new info about the mission would only restart the onslaught.

***** Dick and Cass went to collect a few of Shiro’s things and some gifts and cards from the Garrison.

They also were checking in on Keith, something requested in Shiro’s will.

Dick reported back that he was seeing the facilities counselor for required visits and that a few upperclassmen who had been friends with Shiro were keeping an eye on him.

Cass told Bruce that she read the boy as taking it hard and blaming authority.

Jason came back from a second visit laughing bitterly. Apparently Keith knew of him from stories as “Jay”, Shiro’s brother who hated the media and therefore hid from it. Jason then made a bittersweet observation.

“He’s an angry at the world black haired orphan. Apparently your taste in trainee is a family trait. That’s probably why he never brought him home here, Alfred would have given him a room thinking he was one of yours.”

Bruce tried to focus on how proud he was of Shiro for taking someone under his wing. That kind of compassion was an excellent trait to have.

*******

Batman hesitated before emerging from the shadows on the rooftop. Around the corner of the structure housing the roof-exit access Spoiler and Red Hood were supposed to be waiting for him. But he heard a third, female voice that was not Black Bat. It was Catwoman, but her tone was serious.

“-y’know him, he’s getting a little antsy,definitely plotting, but the rest of us can keep him distracted for a few more weeks at least.”

“Even the time you’ve given us so far has helped. I don’t know if he’s noticed but-” Red Hood was the one to reply.

“-Not that we couldn’t have handled it without him, but he’d take control of everything.” Spoiler interjected with a hint of defensiveness. Batman could picture her crossed arms and cocked jaw.

“I know. And if something does happen, I’m not the only one willing to help you this time.” Catwoman reassured. “The Rogues respect Batman enough to give him time to mourn, plus, you heroes hit harder when you’re upset.”

Batman felt a cold wash percolate down his spine at the vague reminder of what had happened. He aggressively ignored that to digest the new information. Retrospectively, the past few weeks had been quiet, with no capers by the usual miscreants, only mundane petty criminal violence.

The past month had left him so busy with his civilian life that he hadn’t had time to dwell on why things had been so quiet after hours. Suddenly a number of recent events made far more sense in the lense of the Rogues knowing something.

The flowers on his patrol route being unseasonably lush with their blooms open a little longer past dusk than natural.

Harleen Quinzel saluting him with a solemn expression while walking her hyenas in pajamas at five in the morning.

Bank robbers found trying to thaw out their getaway car’s frozen engine.

Batman was brought back to the conversation by Red Hood speaking again.

“What exactly did you tell them? Because it’s not like they ever saw-… It’s not like when it was me and they noticed the lack of Robin.”

“I kept it vague,” Catwoman paused, voice tired, “Just that Batman had an adult civilian son and he…”Her voice choked off. “That was enough for them to understand. Enough of them have civilian relatives themselves.”

“Thank you.” Spoiler reiterated.

“Of course. And how are you kids handling it. I know I’m no counselor but Batman is an emotional brick. If you need to talk…” Catwoman offered.

“It’s hard but we’re all working through it together.” Spoiler answered slowly.

“Yeah, helps that there’s no hard feelings and no blame… just grief. He was… he was close to each of us in a different way and that’s something we all have in common.”

“There are a lot of good times to remember and talk about.”

“I’m rather relieved you’re coping well. I didn’t know him as well as you, but from our limited encounters, I am grateful I knew him.”

Catwoman was gone when Batman showed up on the rooftop to confer with his silently waiting partners. *****

Bruce had loved the night for years. He spent most of his time out in the dark and, in between the moments of staccato sensation of fighting, there was the peace and calm. The lights of Gotham danced in the streets below him, a distant world of nightly reverie he watched and protected.

Thirty years ago, before the ordinances and bulb replacement projects he had heavily backed, the light pollution from the street lights and skyscrapers had drowned out all but the brightest of stars from the sky. Now it was greatly lessened and entire constellations were visible in the breaks in the clouds.

Bruce could remember driving out to the countryside with his parents as a small boy, lying out on a blanket on a grassy hill, and marvelling at the constellations while his parents spun the tales of the myths that those celestial patterns told.

Now, the stars were mocking points of light - too literal spots of hope on the inky darkness of reality. The night sky held Bruce’s hopes and fears.

If he felt embittered by the sky from Gotham, it was nothing to time on the Watchtower. He did not let himself shirk monitor duties there, no matter how many offers of coverage he was given by every other member of the League. Instead he would carry out his shift, sitting in a silence more stony than previous, resolutely focusing on the computers and monitors, not the expansive viewports.

He still freshly remembered the first time Shiro had come to the watchtower. He had left Gotham to Dick, Jason, and Barbara and taken Shiro to the nearly empty space station. Shiro hadn’t asked to see the Watchtower after he had found out that the league had a headquarters in orbit, he had still been too hesitant with his role in his new family and afraid of pushing a limit to request that. He had, however, asked a slew of questions about the station and the brightness in his eyes had allayed any reservations Bruce may have had about taking a “civilian” there.

Shiro had been fourteen and a set of long, coltish limbs restraining trembles of excitement. His arms had been clinging to a stack of books - homework and an astronomy book - and his eyes had been wide behind the rudimentary domino mask Bruce had deemed necessary.

Diana had smiled at his enthusiasm on her way out.

Bruce had picked a night where the only league members present were ones who already knew his identity, Shiro’s wasn’t one he was willing to risk haphazardly. The less people who knew about his connection to Batman, the safer both the family’s identities and Shiro himself were.

He had given Shiro a tour, showing and explaining much of the systems that ran the watchtower and lingering at viewports on each side. Then they had returned to the monitors and Shiro had spent the rest of the evening staring out the windows and telling Bruce his observations.

In his early teen years Shiro became a fixture of Bruce’s shifts there. He went with him every opportunity he was allowed. Bruce also liked that it let Shiro meet his “coworkers” without having Shiro anywhere near real combat or inviting more people to the batcave.

Even as he aged, Bruce had given him clearance to come to the watchtower to visit during weekends off from the school campus.

He associated the watchtower nearly as much with Shiro as associated it with the Justice League. It was a hard place to be.

**** It was the middle of the afternoon when Bruce’s phone pinged. His personal cellphone that was linked with the bat computer.

Damian was at work with him today, rocking in a swivel chair with a textbook balanced on his knees, and he lunged for the device before Bruce could.

“I know what phone this is. Is there some attack or something happening?” He read the notification with a furrowed brow, textbook readily abandoned and shoved to the floor.

Bruce reached over and snatched the device out of his hands. It was a series of symbols and code words sent to him by an automated monitoring system linked to the batcomputer. He opened his laptop, inserted a black bat-logo’d flash drive, and interfaced with the cave computer.

“Someone’s hacking a specific part of the Garrison computer.” Bruce said to fill Damian in. His son had moved to hover around his right side to watch the screen over his shoulder.

“Why would they do that? Is someone trying to launch a rocket?”

“No, they’re accessing probe and transmission records from a secure file. What I’m trying to figure out is who’s doing it.” Bruce explained, fingers moving quickly and gaze focused.

“Is it foreign? Wasn’t Luthor mad that space exploration privatized?” Damian speculated. Bruce grunted and frowned, pausing. He was secretly keeping tabs on anything related to the Garrison Kerberos mission. He had minor alerts for new or changed information in them, copies of all deleted files, and notifications when certain people accessed them. This was the first time a compromise alert had come in.

“The hacking coming from inside an office at the Garrison headquarters. But the computer is marking it as an intrusion.”

“Maybe the guy just forgot his password.” Damian was obviously disappointed at the anticlimactic answer.

“Ah. Whomever is doing this is using outdated security passwords for minor things. Passwords that weren’t flagged immediately as incorrect.” Bruce’s brow uncreased.

“Why? Shouldn’t a facility like that have at least some cyber security?”

“They do. Their computer didn’t automatically classify this as an attack because the codes used were those of Sam Holt.”

“Oh.” Damian became quiet, almost cautious, the way that was becoming typical with anything regarding Shiro. Bruce appreciated that Damian, who often frankly expressed his opinions of people, had been keeping quiet about Shiro and what happened around his siblings. Damian was very hit or miss for his interactions with people and only then in the long run. Bruce, despite mental efforts otherwise, found himself wondering at the lost potential of what Shiro and Damian’s relationship would have been.

The results of a cursory look at the Garrison indoor security cameras proved Bruce’s hypothesis of the identity of the hacker correct. He closed his laptop. It would be hypocritical to deny access to her when she had as much right to those files and the truth as he did and for the same reasons.