#but that's not a good excuse because other than bruce wayne and dick grayson i'm not sure about anybody's character

[geeky-nightphilosopher]

🦇Batfamily🦇

Duke: *Walks by Damian* Why are you smiling?

Damian: Can't I smile?

Duke: No. It's creepy... what do you have to be happy about?

[captainsophiestark]

Dance Like Nobody's Watching

Dick Grayson x Reader

Masterlist - Join My Taglist!

Written for Fictober 2024!

Fandom: DC

Day Twenty-Seven Prompt: "Let me remind you."

Summary: Dick's SO is having trouble adjusting to the new scrutiny of attending Wayne galas as his date, but thankfully, he has an idea to help with that.

Word Count: 1,449

Category: Fluff

Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.

I sipped my champagne, trying to get a handle on my nerves. I could handle fighting the Joker and Scarecrow with no problems, but attending a Wayne gala as the partner of Dick Grayson was throwing me for a loop.

I fought the urge to scowl about it. If one thing could make this night more awkward, it would be some person I barely knew finding me making faces in the corner.

What irritated me the most was that this was by no means my first Wayne gala. I'd grown up with Dick and spent countless hours in the manor with him and his family. We'd been each other's primary entertainment at these things as kids. But being here as his date, and as an adult expected to do more than turn the banquet tables into a fort, was turning out to be surprisingly stressful.

When we were kids, nobody seemed to care what we did much beyond just noticing and thinking we were cute. Now, it seemed like everybody in this room wanted something from Dick, and either saw me as a threat to their ability to get it or as a secret backdoor to him, if only they could get me on their side.

I was seriously on the edge of losing it and going back to the buffet tables kid-style.

Dick had done his best to stick with me, but people kept showing up to pull both of us away from each other for a conversation, and we hadn't been able to do much without being incredibly, obviously rude. I'd finally managed to extract myself enough for some breathing room, but I could see Dick still in the middle of things, a group of old men who almost certainly wanted money from Bruce talking his ear off.

Even from here, I could tell Dick was barely paying attention to them. His eyes scanned the crowd, and after a moment, they landed on me. He raised an eyebrow, and I gave him a reassuring smile. Unfortunately for me, he knew me too well and was too good of a detective to believe it.

Dick quickly made his excuses to the men around him, and didn't take no for an answer as he left the conversation and headed in my direction. He crossed the massive room quickly to stand before me, and this time when I smiled at him, it was much more genuine.

"Hey," he said, returning my smile and leaning in to kiss my temple as soon as he reached me. "How are you doing?"

"Good." I tried to strengthen my smile, but Dick saw right through it. He raised an eyebrow at me.

"...Are you sure?"

I sighed. "It's just... this all feels a little weird. I've known you forever, you know it's never been important to me that you're the famed son of billionare Bruce Wayne. But it seems like that's all anybody else here can think about, and they all either hate me because they want to be with you or want to be my new best friend, all so they can get to you and Bruce. It's fine, none of their opinions matter to me, but... I just didn't expect to feel so weird coming to one of these things again."

Dick took a step closer to me, reaching out to take my arm with a concerned look on his face. He spoke quietly enough that, even if someone had been intentionally eavesdropping (which had happened more than once tonight), they wouldn't be able to hear him.

"Do you want to go? I'm happy to leave if you want to. We don't have to stay here."

I shook my head before he'd even finished his sentence.

"Running and no-showing Bruce's galas isn't a long-term solution. And seriously, it's fine, I'll adjust. I just... I don't know. I miss the days where we hid under the punch bowl giggling out of sight of everybody, you know?"

My boyfriend grinned. "I mean, if you really think about it, there's nothing keeping us from doing that again."

"I can think of a few things," I laughed, swatting his shoulder lightly. He hummed, but sobered quickly as he scanned the room, clearly thinking.

"Well... if you're sure you don't want to commandeer the space under the desert table?"

"I'm sure."

"Then why don't we try dancing? That's a little more... socially acceptable than hiding under the tables, but it's one of the things we used to have the most fun doing at these things. Remember how we'd just take over the entire floor to do whatever we wanted when we were kids?"

I laughed. "Yeah, of course. Although it's a little harder to remember the feeling that inspired us to just run out there before."

Dick smiled softly and extended his hand to me.

"Let me remind you."

My heart did a little backflip, especially when I met Dick's sparkling blue eyes. I huffed a little laugh of disbelief, especially at the thought of stepping into the center of the spotlight when I knew just how many people were going to be watching. But then I looked at Dick again, and I decided that, as long as I was with him, they didn't matter.

I took his hand, and he didn't waste a second before pulling me after him to the dance floor. I laughed, unable to hold back a smile even as heads turned towards us. Dick ignored them completely. He pulled me to his chest when we reached the center of the floor and wrapped an arm securely around my waist, the other taking one of my hands. I rested my free hand on his shoulder, and as we started swaying together to the music, his eyes didn't leave mine for a second.

"You know..." he started after a moment, drawing my attention back from a glance over his shoulder to where people were watching us. "This is nice, but a slow dance wasn't exactly what I had in mind."

I gave Dick my full attention and raised an eyebrow.

"I'm almost afraid to ask, but... what did you have in mind?"

He grinned. "Something more like this."

Suddenly, Dick was spinning me out and away from him, twirling across the floor before pulling me back. We'd know each other long enough and spent enough time as vigilante teammates that his steps were easy to follow, even as he started something closer to swing that didn't match the music at all.

I laughed, a warm feeling spreading through my chest as I shared a smile with my partner. In the back of my mind, I knew more people were probably watching and judging than ever. But suddenly they didn't matter like they used to.

Dick swung me around again, then pulled me close and into an exaggerated dip. If I didn't know he was a superhero, I probably would've been a little worried about him dropping me. Instead, it just made me laugh, especially as Dick grinned and led me into something way too close to something you'd do to Cotton Eye Joe.

With every second that passed on the dance floor with Dick, everyone else in the room faded further and further away. It felt like when we were kids, just me and the most important person in the world to me having the time of our lives.

"Feel any better?" asked Dick, whispering in my ear as he pulled me close again, both hands wrapped tight around my waist. I smiled, running my hands up his arms and across his shoulders.

"So much better. Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me. We're partners, you know I'd never leave you hanging."

I pulled back enough to meet Dick's eyes, and found their familiar sparkle and a smile waiting for me. I gave him a soft smile back.

"I love you, Dick Grayson. So fucking much."

Dick beamed back at me. "I love you too. Now come on, the band's finally catching on to what we want. I want to dance with the love of my life to music that's actually fun for dancing."

I just laughed as Dick swung me out and away from him again, the two of us twirling across the floor, this time in sync with the now-faster music. Suddenly, after a few minutes with Dick, the propsect of all these Wayne galas didn't seem nearly so daunting anymore. Sure, I might have to deal with a few unpleasant strangers whose opinions didn't matter to me. But I'd also get to do this, laughing and dancing and having the time of our lives, with my favorite person in the world.

Worth it in the long run, as far as I was concerned.

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

Everything Taglist: @rosecentury @kmc1989 @space-helen @misshale21

DC Taglist: @gaychaosgremlin @v1ckycheesue @lavender-dinos @g0atmansbridge182

[starry-bi-sky]

#i love this so much#but i have heavy thoughts#1. what happened to vlad. he poisoned a kid and is also half ghost what did they do with him. did he just kidnap danny and vlad just -#-forever wonders what happened to him?

!!! I kept that vague on purpose for interpretation! And frankly also because I haven't thought too deep on it yet-- but my idea was that, at least in the beginning, Vlad is actively still looking for Danny, and its too dangerous for Bruce to try and take him head on in custody battle because of the whole "halfa-overshadowing-he-can-just-mind-control-the-courts" thing! If nothing happens, Vlad goes back into billionaire isolation and Danny keeps his head down to avoid his attention. If something happens: prison. Probably.

do they never casually encounter each other? cause imagine this. listen. listen#older dick taking danny for lunch#just chilling#maybe in the middle of a pun match#>:)#introduce vlad#who has believed for some years that danny's core broke and he ceased to exist#and then sees him happy with a new family. laughing and (apparently) HEALTHY#and#hshshdhdhdhshsjhddjjs#DANIEL?!?!? little badger is that you?!?!? (while crying crocodile tears)#how does danny react to this

THIS! I am delighted to sink my teeth into this. Danny would freeze if he saw or heard Vlad, its a very different reaction than before Vlad poisoned him. And for, well, obvious reasons. Vlad's hurt him before, but that's to be expected from an archnemesis, and Danny would always beat him in the end.

This? This is different. Danny's suffered under Vlad's abusive hands, and suffered long after he escaped him, because of him. Danny's terrified of him, and Vlad poisoning him is one of the main reasons why. Hearing his voice, and seeing him approaching him, has Danny freezing in his seat.

(Of course his younger-big brother dick notices this, and gets immediately on guard. And then he sees who the guy is, and his body language rapidly turns tense and hostile.)

Dick starts standing up, ready to verbally assault Vlad Masters, and Danny grabs his hand and yanks him down. Tearing his eyes away for a moment to dig them into Dick; "No. No, no. Don't. Please don't." He whispers to him, and then immediately turns back to see Vlad.

Vlad tries to hug him, and Danny full body flinches away. Only to remember that Dick is right behind him, and like a good older-little brother, adjusts to try and shield him from Vlad. Vlad gets that hug, although Danny is as stiff as a statue, before he pulls away and starts "fretting" over him.

Grabbing his shoulders; touching his face; trying to hold his arms. Trying to drag him up and out of his seat to make it easier to pull him away. He's very Mother Gothel levels of manipulation and paternal concern. "Oh Daniel, you have no idea how worried sick I've been. You know you're far too fragile to run off like that, god it's been ages! I'm so relieved you're alright."

Danny is. trying not to hyperventilate. Dick is like, .5 seconds away from leaping over the table and socking Vlad Masters in the jaw right then and there. Vlad doesn't recognize Dick as famous Richard Grayson-Wayne because Dick threw on a simple anti-paparazzi disguise. (Hoodie, mask, hat). And when Vlad asks for his name, Dick lies out of his ass and gives him a fake name on the spot.

("You must be the gentleman taking care of my Daniel, I must have your name.") ("...I'm Alex.") ("Alex..?") ("Hart.") (Well, Alexander, I really must thank you again. I'll make sure you're properly compensated, I know my Daniel can be quite a handful.") (Vlad was fully intending on having "Alex" killed. Because he's a possessive, evil bastard of a man)

Danny does get away of course. But not without a little trouble at first. Dick tries to passively coax Vlad into giving Danny back with various excuses (going back to their "apartment" to get Danny's things, for one) but Vlad rebuffs each one. Until eventually Danny manages to get his bearings, and calm himself down long enough to shove Vlad off him and run away again.

Dick follows his lead, of course. But not before throwing his drink in Vlad's eyes, calling him a slew of insults, and then while Vlad is trying to get coffee out of his eyes, proceeds to toss him over the table.

They both get home safely, but the stress of it all leaves Danny sick the next day, and paranoid for the rest of the week.

#YYYYYYYYY#POR OTRO LADO#2. jason#jason who wants to find his mother#does he go to danny?#asks for advice but still dies?#never died and instead serves as a catalyst for finally having healthy communication on the family?#if he does die#can danny look for him on the realms?#is danny the reason jay revives?#is he there when he crawls his way out of the coffin#desperately digging from the other side?#does danny try to kill joker?

I really love the idea that Danny manages to save Jason. Canon divergence my beloved <3. Of course Jason still dying is very angsty -- and i've had thoughts about him getting angry on Danny's behalf too upon realizing Danny's predicament -- Bruce has two dead children and he hasn't even been able to help the first one. BUT

Danny managing to reach the warehouse with a few minutes to spare before the bomb goes off, and desperately trying to get the doors -- locked and chained -- off. For some reason or another, he doesn't have his lockpicks on him. He's yelling for Jason, trying to get a response.

(Danny calls all his little brothers various bird nicknames too. "Chickling", "chick", and "birdy" are his favorites. Fledgling and baby bird are a little more uncommon. If he's feeling playful or if his brothers are grumpy, he calls them "broodling".)

In the end, Danny decides to go "fuck it" and uses his intangibility to bypass the wall. He nearly goes into a rage when he sees Sheila standing there smoking a cigarette, and doing nothing to help his baby brother bleeding out on the floor.

He ignores her and gathers his brother instead, which seems to kick Sheila into gear and as Danny's beelining for the door she asks him "what about me?"

He tells her to fuck off, then mutters an apology to Jason because he knows that's his mom. Jason doesn't have much of a response. Jason is concussed.

Danny gets them out of the building just as it explodes, and since he's already using his intangibility, he goes one step "fuck IT" further, and shields them both. He regrets nothing. The both of them live, just heavily injured.

If jason dies, then Danny is not the reason Jason revives, but he is there when Jay drags himself out of the grave. He's there to sink his fingers into the gravedirt and dig him out in return. He's holding Jason for nearly an hour, the both of them crying, when he decides to call Bruce and let him know. Then while he's at it, lets Dick know.

Dick and Bruce are both there in ten.

(Danny can't look for Jason in the realms because imo, he has no access to it. And he couldn't even if he would, his body would automatically absorb the high concentration of ectoplasm in the realms, and that would be like giving a feast to a stray dog for the blood blossom in his veins.)

(Doesn't mean he hasn't considered it if it meant having a chance to see Jason again.)

Danny would try and kill the Joker, and just like Batman, would have to be stopped. Danny nearly kills himself in the process because of his intense grief state making his powers fritz out and his ecto-levels rocket off the charts + he'd willingly using his powers if it meant killing the fucker that murdered his baby brother. Danny very, very fucking nearly goes ghost.

I am loudly pushing the batdad agenda i am loudly pushing the— DPxDC Prompt

“Woah. You look like shit."

Granted, that’s probably not the first thing Danny should be saying to the guy that just bit the curb, but in his defense; he’s not running on 100% right now either.

The man -- tall, towering, and broader than Danny is tall -- whips around on his heel, black frayed cape flaring out impressively. Danny would've whistled in appreciation, but he takes the time instead to wipe the back of his hand across his mouth, smearing the blood running from his nose across his cheek.

"Sorry." He blinks widely, not even flinching as the man with the horns zeroes in on him. "That was rude of me. I have a really bad brain-to-mouth filter; Sam says its what always gets me into trouble."

And she's not wrong either, per say. His smart mouth is what landed him in this situation -- with blood blossom extract running through his veins and cannibalizing the ectoplasm in his bloodstream. Thanks Vlad.

The man grunts at him; a short, curt "hm" that shouldn't make Danny smile, but he does because he's somewhat delirious and probably concussed. The man keeps some kind of distance, sinking towards the shadows of Gotham's alleyway like he dares to melt right into it.

If it's supposed to scare Danny, it doesn't work. Danny's never been afraid of the dark; he's always been able to hide himself in it. He blinks slowly at the mass of shadows.

"You look hurt." The shadows says, blurring together around the edges. Danny squints, and licks his lips to get the blood dripping down his chin off. Ugh, he hates the taste of blood.

"I am." He says, "My godfather poisoned me. M'dying." The agony of the blood blossom eating him from the inside out looped back around to numbing a while ago, so all he feels is half-awake and dazed.

"Hey," Danny stumbles forward towards the man, a bloodied hand reaching out to him. "You-- you're a hero, right? You're not attacking me; which is more than I can say for most costumed people I've met." Maybe it's a poor bar to judge someone at, but he's already established that Danny's not in his right mind.

The man makes no change in expression, but Danny realizes blearily that it's hard to tell with the shadows on his face. He stays still long enough for Danny to latch onto the cape -- stretchy, but almost soft under his fingers.

He looks up blearily into the whites of the man's eyes. "Can you help me? I don't-- I don't wanna die." Again. He doesn't wanna die again. He blinks slow and lizard-like. "I mean- I'll probably get to see mom and dad again, but I told them I'd at least try and make it to adulthood."

There's a clatter down the street, and Danny's ghost sense chills up his spine and leaves a bitter, ashy taste in his mouth. He immediately knows who it belongs to even before the deceptively gentle; "Daniel?" echoes down the way.

"Daniel? Quit your games, badger, Gotham is dangerous for children."

Danny's mouth pulls back, and blood spills against his tongue. "Please." He rasps, and grabs onto the shadow's cape with both hands. "Please. He's going to kill me. Please--"

"Daniel? Is that you?"

His lips part, dragging in air to plead with the darkness again. He doesn't need to, the whites of his eyes narrow, and the cape whirls around him before Danny can blink. Soon swaddled in shadows, the Night lifts him up, and steals him away.

[batstorm93672]

"Just tell us what's going on. This has been happening too many times for it to be nothing Dames"

He's right...

Damian knows that his brother is right. Why should he admit that to Dick then? What does it matter? What does it change in this fucked up world?

This world... is filthy and full of sinners.

Damian is one of them, a sinner, a demon, he could care less nowadays, it used to hurt a lot. Now it feels like nothing to hear it, having to be told the glory of life through bloodshed. The voices urging him on to keep going, keep fighting, start killing, start seeing green of fury. It was too much for him to handle, but he's done it before, so what's different now?

Yeah he went ahead way too many times when told not to, Dick, Tim, Jason and Bruce have been constantly telling him and lecturing him this whole month.

It's torment.

So why should he start talking now? Cause it's making more trouble than worth? If so, then a lot of shit would have been spoken on before. What changes now?

Why should he care what they think? He's an Al Ghul. The heir to the Demon. So why should he care?!

"Son, we're here for you. Talk to us"

What do you want from me?! You all want me to confirm your suspicions of being a demon and killer? I think that would be pretty fucking obvious by now... no, can't say that. They would probably strip Robin from me for awhile

"I told you all, it's nothing. Let me go already"

Leave it at that, no more questions. Let me leave and go to my room, I don't want to answer anything e--

BEHIND

Damian swept the feet off whoever approached him behind and punched them in the face, going down with them to keep his onslaught

BLOOD

KEEP FIGHTING

AL GHUL

"DAMIAN!"

Damian flinched at his father's voice and stopped to see his opponent... Dick Grayson was bleeding, blood running down his nose and bruising face... his blood is on Damian Al Ghul's hands...

Someone moved him away from Dick, rightfully so...

Jason, Tim and Bruce were already around Dick inspecting the damage, Damian stumbled back. Damian shook his head slowly, the dawning realization over what he's done crashing down.

He hit his brother...

No

No

No

No

"------"

NO

NO

"------"

Damian ran, as fast as his legs were trained to do. Already in the Batcave the cold hitting his feet, regardless Damian kept going. Heading below where no one ever really went to. Damian jumped down, his legs burning in pain upon landing. He disregarded the pain and kept running, hearing shouts from above didn't mean anything. It was colder down here, darker and the more he went on the less things he recognized. He had ran past all of Batman's other vehicles or things below, all of it was gone now. Damian was in the dark, the darkest part he could think of in this cave.

What if they find him here? Cold and shivering, he would deserve it... it would be right to be dealt such punishment.

Punishment...

I ran from it... if I had back then, then the consequences would be worse. They might go through with it this time... they had enough of me! They had enough! They'll throw the harshest punishment I can feel until I'm a broken shell... Why did I run? It's going to be worse... the punishment will be worse because I showed fear and ran...

Disgusting

Fear

Pathetic

An Al Ghul does not run

They stand and fight until death

They die

They come back

stop

They kill

They get revenge

An Al Ghul gets what they want any means necessary

You have failed me

stop

Failure

Weak

stop

Grown soft

You are not an Al Ghul nor a Wayne

stop

You are a child who failed

A child who has reached the lowest point

Disappointing excuse of a child

stop...

What good are you?

WHAT GOOD ARE YOU?!

YOU ARE NO SON OF MINE

YOU ARE NO GRANDCHILD OF MINE

YOU ARE NO ROBIN OF MINE

Stop

YOU ARE A DISAPPOINTMENT

A MISTAKE

A NUISANCE

Stop

UNWANTED CHILD

"YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW THAT?! YOU THINK I DON'T FUCKING KNOW WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT I AM? HOW PATHETIC AND WEAK I'VE BECOME?! I DON'T BELONG HERE! I DON'T BELONG ANYWHERE! I KNOW I'M A DISGRACE TO THE AL GHUL AND WAYNE! STOP REPEATING WHAT I KNOW! SHUT UP ALREADY I KNOW ALL OF THIS! STOP SHOUTING AT ME! STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP!! STOP SHOUTING AT ME! SHUT UP! BE QUIET! I'M TIRED OF HEARING YOU ALL! I WANT YOU ALL TO BE QUIET PLEASE! I'M TIRED OF THIS! I'M SICK OF ALL THIS! SHUT UP SHUT UP!"

Damian kicked his feet out as if kicking any thoughts would make it go away. No... they are stuck to him, like a thorn they remain. They lurk within and will not leave.

------

------

D----n

"What... what more do you have to say now? What can you say that I don't already know..."

Da----

Dami--

--mian

---i-n

"Shut up... I can't focus..."

...

...

"What... what do you want"

"Damian. Look at me buddy"

"I don't want to see you... I know grandfather and mother are already watching... behind me... so whoever you are, just leave me alone. I'm tired of talking... I'm so tired of it all..."

"It's Dick, it's just me and you"

"...don't play games, it's beneath you all"

"Damian open your eyes"

"...fine, if it gets you to go away then fine-"

Dick

That's him

"...you... are you real?"

"Yeah I am"

"I... I'm so sorry. I didn't know it was you... I was scared I didn't know. I didn't mean to-shut up-ugh I didn't know"

"I know, I know you didn't. It's okay, I'm not angry, no one is. We're worried for you, we shouldn't have taken this long to ask"

"I... I didn't know... I've been feeling... wrong. I just didn't get it, I thought of it to just be me, just being a demon I suppose..."

No response, Dick was waiting for him to keep talking and hear him out more.

"I wasn't thinking properly, I think I hurt myself while running too. I don't know why I ran, a part of me said that it was idiotic of me considering that it won't make the punishment any less worse. It would get worse and I'd suffer"

He felt Dick's gaze it was nicer to have in comparison to Talia and Ra Al Ghul who in reality weren't here, they were just a part of his illness...

"I wasn't trying to hurt anyone... I don't know what went over me. Richard..?"

"Yes?"

"I'm tired... really really tired..."

"You can take a nap, I'll be there when you wake up"

"Thank you... brother"

Damian went slack, Dick picked him up in his arms and walked out. Damian had made it to the deep part of the cave away from most of Batman's things. Regardless Dick knew his way back, so he carried Damian gently and clicked on his phone contacting Bruce.

"Hey, I got him. He was a wreck, he passed out from it all. Don't worry he didn't hit me or anything, my nose is fine. Just get to his room and get Alfred please. He has some bad injuries to his leg, looks like a bad scrap after hitting the cave floor. Alright. Yeah I'll see you soon"

[youngergrayson]

i didn't want to do this but now as i sit on my computer, i see that i have no other choice but to speak out about this topic.

before we continue, i'm adding a read more tag here because not only will this be long as hell, it will contain triggering content

[tw; mentions of death, su*cide, depression, blood, throwing up, gore, self harm]

who exactly is thea grayson wayne? see that's an incredibly good question, one i'm terrified to answer, it's been going around for all my life and i still have no bloody clue.

there was a time where i would cry myself to sleep in florence's [@florence-wayne-official] room when flo wasn't home to comfort myself because i literally felt like i had no one else aside from kit and florence.

i'd sometimes just go and flop down on kit's [@kit-the-nonbinary-wayne] couch, literally begging for them to give me a hug and tell me that i'd be okay because i was shaking.

it wasn't pretty

there was a time i'd not eat anything for weeks, then throw up after every meal i ate when they forced me to, where i almost killed myself [more than like, six times] only to be stopped by either dick, kit, florence, alfred, jason, or tim [who was just adopted at the time] or bruce, sometimes i wish they hadn't.

sometimes i wish they'd let me die, because looking in the mirror i don't see a survivor or someone who's fought hard, i see someone who's given up on life and doesn't deserve anything anymore

i've got many scars from fighting villains my entire life but the ones that are the most painful are the one's i did to myself.

it got so bad to the point where i almost overdosed on my meds, i don't see myself in the mirror anymore i just see a reflection of the girl i once was once.

i once was sitting in the bathroom of my room in the manor, it was right next to florence's room so we had a habit of annoying each other.

i don't know what came over me but i took a blade from my razor and drew a line across my palm, i didn't even react to the blood dropping onto the floor, i just stared at it.

i think florence and kit came to know i did something wrong because a while later they bust into the bathroom and snatched the blade from my other hand.

it was bad, it got really bad.

what made it worse was when dick left jason died, florence left for school, kit left to live with selina and tim was the only person around, i didn't know who to talk to, i couldn't put everything on that boy, not the weight i carried, so i let everyone believed i wasn't hiding anything under my long sleeves, that i wasn't throwing up after every meal.

the worse part is that i've got help for it multiple times, i just refuse to get better and i don't know why

i won't say that i don't do any of those things today, i still do, but im trying to get out of it and honestly im glad for everyone i have to help me through it [@addison-wayne18 @kit-the-nonbinary-wayne @kathy-kyle @florence-wayne-official and everyone else i can't tag right now]

mental health matters, it matters as much if not more than physical health, im tired of people dismissing it and telling me that being mentally exhausted isn't an good excuse

just, let's try to make everyone more accepting towards it, because it's important.

today, my family, my friends, my girlfriend and faith are keeping me alive but maybe one day they may not be able to, i dunno, but for now i live to bother people another day

yes, i am a suicidal piece of shit, what about it?

[aliasimagines]

Runaway Lovers // Jason Todd

a/n: So. This did not turn out how I planned, at all but I love it, to the point that I might continue it in the future. I saw a few people do arranged marrige au's ( I'm looking at you @im-hqlover) and I thought... Why not? But I put in a little twist, threw in some angst (don't worry it didn't turn out to be heartbreaking) and I got this. This is supposed to be set in the 1800s (around the 60s or 70s). ALSO Happy freaking Birthday to Jason! ❤️ Hope you guys enjoy reading

word count: 1409

As soon as you heard you ran. You did not care about your beautiful dress as you stepped into dirty puddles on your way. You did not care for your father’s shouts as he screamed for you to stay. You did not care fpr the people you shouldered as you ran on the cobble stoned streets.

No you did not care about all these. You only cared to find him. He must have heard it too. And he must be furious. Even more than you are.

You ran through the open, black iron gate and towards the huge manor where you spent oh so many of your time.

You didn’t even have to knock, the door already opened as soon as you stood in front of it. And behind it, stood and elderly man with a small mustache. His face showed empathy.

„Miss Y/N. I am deeply sorry.”

For a moment you felt your anger drifting away just a little bit.

„Thank you Alfred.”

He nodded his head and pointed you in direction. You didn’t needed it honestly, he knew that too. Both of you could hear the muffled shouting from the salon.

You lifted your gown again, so it wouldn’t bother you as you rushed to the door. You opened it. Just enough so you could take a look inside.

You saw Mr Wayne opposite from the door, in front of the brick fireplace. He still wore that suit and coat he did not long ago when he and your father had a ’business meeting’ in your home. You couldn’t really read his face but the way he stood..he was frustrated. Suddenly a shouting young man blocked your view. He stood with his back facing you, but you recognized him. How could you not? It was Jason, the love of your life.

„...no choice?! Are your factories worth more to you than your own sons’ happiness?”

Ah yes, if you weren’t sure till now about his knowledge on the thing, his words made it crystal clear. The eldest Wayne closed his eyes for a moment, massaging the bridge of his nose as he sighed.

„No. Of course, not but without Y/N’s father we can not keep up the factories. Think about the thousands of poor people who wouldn’t have jobs!”

You could almost hear Jason’s next words (I don’t care!)

You opened the door now. You were still raging on the inside but you spoke with a quiet, soft voice.

„Jason...” you gently touched his shoulder, he spin around in a speed of light and took you in his arms.

„Y/N.” he breathed, suddenly feeling a really strong urge to break down and cry. But wouldn’t you, in his place? He just learned that the girl he loves, more than anything, has to marry his older brother because of the deal your fathers made.

„I am sorry Y/N. I tried everything but your father insisted that you marry my eldest son.” Bruce looked... Ashamed?

You were about to respond something when you heard sniffing. Until now you haven’t even noticed the quietly crying figure on the couch. There was, Richard Grayson, with his face buried in his hands. And you remembered the long ginger haired girl he used to hang around a lot.

„I don’t want this.” you said, pulling yourself closer to Jason.

Bruce looked at his two older sons and you, who he knew since your birth, and he left the room, filled with guilt and frustration, he left without a word.

Jason looked after him with eyes shining from the over flown tears.

„I can’t believe he done this... And your father! I knew he didn’t like me but this... This is just... Insane.”

You could disagree with him, neither could you speak because if you were to open your mouth you’d start sobbing and then maybe you couldn’t ever stop.

You stood still in each other’s embrace, Dick was looking at the ceiling with watery eyes when the door reopened.

But it wasn’t Bruce. It was a beautiful woman, whom you seen so many times.

„Dry your tears, children and hurry up.” she said in a firm tone.

All three of you looked at her.

„What?”

She sighed inpatiently.

„I am not letting my idiot of a husband ruin your lives. Jason, Y/N follow me to the stable. I took the liberty of packing your bags.”

Jason lett go of you so he could look at his adoptive mother.

„Selina.. I don’t get it.”

Neither did Dick or you but he was the only one to voice this.

„Kid there’s no time for this- ah damn it! You know how you said you always wanted to travel around the world? Well Jason now you can, with Y/N. Two horses are waiting for you.”

„Why would you do this for us Miss Kyle?”you ask. She shakes her head.

„Told you. I want all of you to be happy. If you ran away with Jason, Dick can’t marry you.”

Dick was the first to react. He lunged forward and hugged the woman.

„Thank you so much Selina!” he turned to you. „Excuse me, but I am so happy I don’t have to marry you, darling!”

A little laugh escaped your lips. You were too. Richard was like a brother to you. To imagine him being your husband...brr.

Jason rolled his eyes at his brother.

„Of course, you should be happy.” even though he sounded annoyed he smiled at his brother with such love. He hugged him.

„I guess it’s goodbye , brother.”

„But only for now, little brother” Dick laughed and hugged me too. „Look out for each other, alright?”

You both noded.

„Come now, dears, we must hurry.”

„What about Timothy, Cass, Duke and Damian and little Helena?” Jason asks in a panicked vioce. To leave without saying goodbye to them..

„We don’t have the time Jace. I promise I will explain everything to them when the two of you are out of town. But we really need to get going.”

She lead the way out, on a narrow hallway, which you couldn’t quite recall even though you spent most of your time at the manor considering how your father never really had time for you.

„Jason in the bag which I strapped to your horse, you’ll find an address. It’s on the other side of the city but if you get there till midnight two of my friends will wait for you outside and take you in for the night. They will help you get on a ship at dawn. „

You knew how Selina was a mysterious woman but this sounded wild even for her.

„ What friends? „you asked as the same time a Jason asked:” Where is the ship sailing to?”

„ The two of you have to many questions.” she opened a door to outside. You could see the barn.

„Old friends that I trust. And to Europe. To France.”

„Good thing I know french.” Jason smiled.

„Yes, it is a good thing. Use it! And don’t tell anyone who you are.” she now turned to you. „Your father...I know he will move every stone to find you.”

You arrived next to the horses.

„Everything you will need is in your bags. The money will be enough for a few months if you are clever with it. Put these on.” Selina tossed a cloaked robe at each of you. „Use the path through the garden and turn right next to the old fountain. You’ll find yourself on the street in a couple of minutes.”

She watches as the two of you hop on your horses.

„I know you are smart. Both of you. But be careful. And I will miss you. So make sure to write me a letter once in a while, young man!”

Jason smiled and leaned down to kiss Selina’s forehead.

„I promise... But, Selina..what about Bruce?

„He.. He needs time. That idiot. But he will come around” Jason nods at her answer.

Jason looked at you, with questioning eyes, he wanted to know if you really want this. You took a deep breath and smiled at him.

„Thank you for everything Selina.”

She just waved for the two of you to leave. You did, you rode away on your horses as fast as they were able to run. And as you left the manor grounds, you knew, this was just the beginning of a great life.

[heartless-error]

I'm home

Fandom: DC comics, Batman

Pairing: Jason Todd x Timothy Drake (JayTim)

Rating/Tags: JayTim Week 2020 - Day 4: Free Day, Fluff, Sleepy Cuddles, Developing Relationship, Getting Together

Other(s) links: AO3

Jason knew no matter how hard they tried, the cave was no longer his home, nor was the manor. It might sound sad, but didn't matter how many lies they told him or deals made with him to bring him back to the family, such places were no longer considered his home for a long time. However, of all of them, the relationship with his replacement was the one which seemed to have improved the most, and as the comfort and trust between each other had increased, it was obvious his relationship had changed too, they were... Well… He wasn't sure what they were yet.

But Tim being adorable when he slept didn't help him at all.

OR:

5 times Jason saw Tim sleep and 1 time Tim did.

I'm home

 I.

 That night, if Jason were in the batcave, it was because he had no choice.

 He wanted that to be recorded. Don't get him wrong, the relationship with the bats was improving a minimum, for once both parties had agreed to try to resolve their differences and fix years of roughness and conflict between them. However, this didn’t mean that some tension wasn’t yet present in their interactions, and much as his first instincts as see them wasn’t taking out a gun, it was still a bit awkward to act as if nothing had happened.

 Everyone knew that it was a process and they had to take time, so sharing some simple cases, and not killing each other’ during these were the first steps to take in the right direction.

 Of course, sharing such cases meant that Jason sometimes had to put a feet int the cave to get a more detailed update or pick up something he needed for, like right now.

This time Grayson had forgotten to send him the entire update of a case that they had right now, reason why he had been forced to appear there to demand it. Although if he thought about it, maybe Dick would have done it on purpose to drive him out of his mind and see him in the cave, forcing him to go there and socialize.

 Good strategy, bastard. He'll be punched later in the mission with some vigilante excuse, like "you had something on your nose" or "Batman told me to do it," Or better, he could punch him right now without hesitation, who would stop him? moral? fraternal love? Bullshit.

 No matter how hard they tried, the cave was no longer his home, nor was the manor. It might sound sad, but it was so, and it didn't matter how many lies they will tell him or deals made with him to bring him back to the family, such places were no longer considered his home for a long time.

 So, he started to search Grayson's stupid ass not to waste any more time. But it was then when he walked through the batcomputer and something else caught his eye.

 If there were things that he knew about his replacement, other than that their relationship was still somewhat tentative and strained -but cordial-, is that the guy barely rested, and he was fucking crazy. He was smart, yes, but he sacrificed himself for simple missions to insane points, he didn’t sleep, he didn’t eat well, he worked as CEO of Wayne Enterprise by day, as a vigilante at night, he also had online classes, and his diet consisted of energetic bars, coffee and Monster in industrial quantities.

Yeah, as he said, fucking crazy. Jason didn’t know how he was still alive, even after having survived all attempts on his life, of his courtesy, of course.

So, the sight of the boy asleep above batcomputer’s keyboard wasn’t as surprising as it should be.

 He was wearing Green Lantern pajamas, Wonder Woman socks -like his- and the cup he was holding while he was asleep was white with a message that said "there’s still no vaccine for stupidity." His shiny black hair was very tousled, his skin was very pale and his face had some dark circles that didn’t disappear even after sleep, he could almost hear him snoring, he was drooling on the keyboard too, and his cheek crushed against it was writing a deep and interesting report titled "fhidsgbobvhuyfdvashufso".

 Jason didn't know whether to feel pity, compassion, or amusement at such a spectacle. It was a mix of all of the above.

 In the end, he considered if the boy was exhausted enough to sleep under those circumstances, it was better to leave him as he was, he owed him. So, he did, turned around and left.

 When he punched Dick a few minutes later and he started to yell at him, he said:

 “Shh. The replacement is sleeping.”

 The punch he received back was silent, but effective.

 II.

 Alfred's excuses for bringing him into the manor were a thousand times better than Dick's or Bruce's.

 He went on, and was going to go on, never considering the place as his home again. But Alfred's tricks had something the other two pedants didn’t: Alfred's food. Whether they wanted it or not, it was a real plus and a compelling reason to put aside their grudges and deign to step on the place.

 Although as much as being lured with delicious food like a wild animal was a good explanation why he was now wandering through the carpeted hallways of the Wayne Manor, he had to admit that the approaches he had been taking with the family had been having its effects, there was less tension now.

 They were still assholes sometimes, but with less tension and a little more understanding or appreciation on both sides.

Of all them, the relationship that seemed to have improved the most and that was a pleasant surprise for everyone, including him, was with his replacement.

 The one who he found when he entered one of the most remote rooms of the manor.

 He didn't even bother saying hello, but rolled his eyes, this time with amusement.

 At this moment, he had spent more time in the place, and he discovered along with the third Robin that they worked very well together, starting to take more and more team missions than they should. Another thing that he had also noticed is that Tim could fall asleep anywhere and under any circumstances, he didn't care.

It wasn’t a surprise looking at the rhythm of life he led, but Jason had found himself appreciating the fun and entertainment provided by being able to find the boy sleeping anywhere. Without realizing it, it was already something he had begun to expect every time he was there, giving him a kind of routine and a sense of normality that he didn't expect to enjoy.

 This time Tim was on the sofa, his legs still on the floor but his torso lying on the padded surface of the furniture. He would bet the boy had an early conference call judging by the laptop on the table, or because his pants were the ninja turtle pajamas, but his top was the typical jacket, shirt, and tie you could attribute to the CEO, Timothy Drake-Wayne.

 It was hilarious, stupid. Made Jason snort with fun and approach to look like the other slept peacefully, murmuring in his dreams and hugging one of the cushions on the sofa tightly.

 This time what he felt was simple relief to see him sleep, since he would need him at his 100% for their mission tonight.

 And although his first instinct was to leave again, he stopped to think for a moment, considering that he was starting to realize how difficult it was to repair interpersonal relationships, so he forced himself to try. So, he walked over, scooped up his feet as gently as he could to get him properly on the couch, grabbed one of the blankets on the end of it, and covered him, so he wouldn't catch a cold or something. He didn’t know, but since he slept for once, at least he could be more comfortable than usual.

 When he finished, he tried to convince himself that the way Tim had smiled softly in dreams hadn’t affected him at all.

 III.

 “I'm fine…”

 “Shut up.”

 “But I'm fine…”

 “I said shut up.”

 He already knew he was fine, fuck, he didn't have to repeat it. Jason was the first to know that he was fine, who was treating the wound? Eh?

 On top of that the gremlin had the audacity to raise his head and look at him in a kind of pout, like a sad puppy or something. He certainly looked like it with those huge eyes and those long eyelashes, he was regretting giving him those painkillers to ease the pain.

 The red team had completely killed it this night, like all the others during the last months. Undoubtedly, discovering the good team they made had been one of the best surprises among the Gotham vigilantes, though not so much for the villains who were kicked in the ass, of course.

Precisely because of one of those villains, quite spiteful in his opinion, they were in this situation.

 They hadn't expected the little ambush across the corner at the end of the night, so they were caught off guard, and they took a couple of unplanned injuries courtesy of some thugs already on the way to jail.

 Jason didn't like that punch in the face, or the stab Tim had received in the shoulder. The last in concrete hadn’t liked him at all, had angered him, very much, maybe more than normal. He almost took out the real bullets again to make it clear that if anyone had the right to stab Red Robin in Gotham without any repercussions, it was him and Robin.

 So no, he hadn't liked that attack on his partner. Nothing at all. He could have been angrier with the attacker but leaving the scene and treating the other was more important after knocking out that guy.

So, without wasting a minute he carried the other, fled the scene and ended up in the bathroom of one of the Red Hood safe houses treating his injuries.

 Tim, the little shit without a sense of survival and self-preservation, insisted it hadn’t been that bad, it didn’t matter the desperation with which he had swallowed the painkillers and the points that he had to apply to close the wound, he was convinced that it had been a slight injury.

 He will teach him what a slight injury is, the stupid shit.

 Although when he finished closing and cleaning carefully the wound on his shoulder, Jason realized that he had no explanation for the annoyance and anger that he carried with him about the whole thing.

Yes, Tim was now his partner in Gotham, they were starting to be feared as a team, and maybe, maybe, out of the vigintalism work he could have realized that he likes the nerd more than he had originally imagined. After all the little bird shared his acid and sarcastic humor, caught his literary references, played more with gray and twisted morality than others thought, he was one of the most attractive men in Gotham, and he also liked chilli-dogs. So yes, Jason wasn’t a stone, it was true he was taking a certain fascination with him. One whose reach didn’t want to start thinking about, because although they don’t always come out unscathed from every patrol, Tim was right in saying that the wound he had acquired tonight wasn’t proportional to his reaction.

 He didn’t want to give him the reason, Jason wanted to convince himself that the discomfort on his chest wasn’t because he was worried about him or anything like that because that would mean that he cared for Tim a lot. And he doesn't, right?

 His plans for constant denial went to hell when he finished cleaning the wound, and he felt a light and soft brush on his cheek, courtesy of Tim's fingers that had startled him.

 “What?” He asked, looking at him confused but agitated.

 The painkillers seemed to have worked, judging by how the boy was leaning tiredly against the wall and looked sleepy, almost asleep. With those baby blue eyes cloudy and looking at his face as he tried not to close them.

He ran his fingers down his cheek to his cheekbone, touching where Jason still felt a little numb, surely where they had punched him and was beginning to have a bruise.

 “You are hurt too…” He whispered, clearly falling quickly into the dream world.

 “Tch. Just a punch.” He said, finishing his task and shrugging.

 “But you're hurt...” The smallest frowned, almost seemed annoyed, but he had already closed his eyes completely.

 “Who cares?” He teased, snorting with amusement.

 There it was again, that boundless kindness Tim possessed and intrigued him so much. It had never stopped to amaze him, really. By now, Jason couldn't help but wonder how anyone could be so generous after all he’d been through, especially Tim.

He was fascinated by the way he gave everything for someone, everything. He just gave, gave, and gave, and gave without stopping, without reservation, gave all of himself and what he had with such force and intensity that it even frightened, regardless of the consequences. And even after receiving betrayals, stabbings, and disappointments in return, he was still there with a stab wound in his shoulder, lying in his bathroom, and worrying more about him and the punch in the face he had received.

 It was admirable.

 “Me…” Tim muttered.

 Jason felt his chest sink, almost surprised.

 “Yeah, sure” He said sarcastically and snorting.

 As if he were to believe that. The medication had to be working a lot for him if it was making him forget that not long ago the one who was stabbing him was him. He shouldn't matter to Tim; he was the last person Tim should care about. But a part of him told him that the medication didn't matter here, Tim would keep thinking the same thing because the way he had forgiven him so easily indicated it, and Jason didn't even want to start thinking about how that made him feel.

 “I care…” He whispered weakly, almost asleep. “I care about you, you're my Robin.”

 He dropped that while Jason was keeping things in the medicine cabinet absently, making him froze and wondering if he had heard correctly or not. The weight and the annoying feeling that had been installed in his chest twisted, and he looked up uneasily to realize that the other had already fallen completely asleep against the wall.

 He had dropped the bomb and retreated.

 The thing was that maybe he wasn't even going to remember it in the morning, but surely those words, along with the tender touch of his fingers, and the way his heart jumped listening to it was something Jason wasn’t going to forget, how to do it?

 He always thought he had been the least loved, least valued Robin in Gotham and the community. After all he was just the violent street boy that had to fill the shoes of the amazing and perfect Richard Grayson. He didn't do much either, he was like Robin for a short time and it was his career as Red Hood that allowed him to help Gotham from another perspective, also he died of reckless. Why would he be anyone’s favorite Robin?

 Apparently, he was Tim's, if he could trust his wounded drugged words.

 But it was that the moment and the place where he realized that it wasn’t worth trying to fool himself, because his chest continued to twist, but this time in a more pleasant and warm way, his discomfort was gone, and when he recognized that maybe he was a little more fascinated by the other than he realized, he felt a certain weight disappear from his shoulders.

 He looked at his partner asleep, leaning on the wall in his half-worn suit and with a bandage covering his shoulder. He noticed the way he wrinkled his nose like a cat, his relaxed expression so different from when he was awake and constantly alert, his long eyelashes, and the scars that completely covered his body, narrating a life of sacrifice and danger.

With an exhausted sigh, Jason decided to pick him up off the floor with care and allowed him to sleep in his bed that night.

 Before going to sleep on the couch, he smiled because the way the other had instinctively wrapped himself like a burrito in his blankets definitely was adorable.

  IV.

 They didn’t even watch half of the movie when Jason felt a weight light fall on his shoulder.

 The Jason Todd from a year ago, would have simply bothered, overwhelmed, and pulled away, perhaps pushed the other. Now he just smiled, almost touched, and settled better on the couch so that the body of the other wasn’t seen in a bad posture after a while.

 Tim had finished his last assignments that afternoon, concluding his semester. Apparently, the Wayne Enterprise board looked like to have behaved well this time too, so when the meeting ended, the current CEO sent Jason a text to plan a movie marathon to honor the occasion.

 Of course, not was the first time they did something like this, Jason was more than sure what was going to happen. So, he didn’t flinch when Tim fell asleep against him.

 Seriously, it was ridiculous.

 If someone had told him long ago that he would end up having marathons of the Lord of the Rings with the boy whose blood he tried to write on the walls, maybe he would have shot them. However, against everything, he had found himself enjoying and longing those nights.

There were always quiet nights, when the patrol had ended, or they needed to hide from the world together. They weren’t aware at what point they managed to find so much comfort in each other's company, but surely between healed wounds -like that stab in his bathroom- and completed missions, they must have realized that not only did they get along, but they liked, complemented, and helped each other in more ways than one.

 As ironic as it sounded, Tim and his boundless goodness got kept the Lazarus Pit's anger at bay. Not in an exaggerated way, since its effects kept inside him and it was clear that they were not going to disappear, of course it was something he would have to live with now. But Tim, so smart, kind, and perceptive as he was, had learned to read the signs, to interpret them. Soon as he started to get along with him, he could sense when anger appeared, he had learned not to stoke it, not to push it, and give him space when he needs it.

He hadn't said it, of course, because he was a little self-sacrificing shit that did those kinds of things without wanting recognition or anything in return, but Jason had noticed it and inadvertently began to return the same care and caution with which the other surrounded him on his bad days. Without realizing it, he saw himself cooking so that he didn't only eat energy drinks, he canceled some of their joint patrols too when he noticed that Tim wasn’t particularly in the mood, and sent him to sleep when he was too tired. And when he didn't want to, he would play a movie and within a few minutes he was snoring.

 Like now, for example.

 Jason looked aside and the tender smile he had kept until then grew. No doubt Tim had shown up at his door with popcorn, drinks, and was ready to spend the night awake with laughter and his favorite movies, he had to give him that credit. But knowing him, he had slept rather little to be able to finish all his assignments on time, so the moment he was wrapped in a blanket, comfortable, warm, with the lights off and the television in the background, it was impossible for him not to fall asleep.

 Now, he was completely leaning on Jason, lying there placidly while breathing slowly and not even worried by his surroundings, with his guard completely down. As if falling asleep on top of the Red Hood was nothing special.

 Jason felt that amusement turn into affection, devotion, even pride as he realized how safe he had to feel around him, so he could sleep like this without reservations. The boy was ridiculous, but he was even more ridiculous for being at his mercy without resistance. Because being so close he could smell the citrus scent of his hair due to his shampoo, as well as feel his small body completely leaning against his. He couldn't see his face, but in these cases, he didn't know if it was better that way.

 While the comfort and trust between each other had increased, it was obvious it was because his relationship was now... Well… He wasn't sure what it was. Indefinite, if he had put a name on it somehow.

 They flirted, joked, were close, had dates (or something like that) and saw each other when they could.

 They hadn't talked about it, but Jason wasn't dumb, and Tim wasn't either, he knew they were both aware of the change of attitude, but they didn't mention it. It isn’t as if they were doing nothing about it, on the contrary, rather he felt that they were letting it develop on its own, to follow its natural course.

 Eventually they would speak about it, because at the rate they were going to, they would have no choice.

 For the moment, Jason settled on the sofa wrapping the blanket that covered them, put his arm around the little one's shoulders to keep him by his side and after thinking about it for a few seconds, he kissed his hair while he was squeezing it a little and inhaled his scent. Then he looked again at the TV.

 When he fell asleep, he felt that this was something he could call home.

 V.

 When Jason returned from patrol, he didn't even bother turning on the lights.

 He entered to the room through the window, like a good with serious problems to remember that doors existed for something, and he started to remove his armor immediately, snorting and boiling of frustration in silent.

 The night had been disgusting. Not because something serious had happened, if not because it had been the typical patrol in which he had only encountered pseudo villains who thought they could aspire to something more, and people believing they were dangerous when they were actually rookies with guns trying to rob an unfortunate gas station. He had also had to cover part of Cass's territory in Chinatown, which coincidentally had been the best of the night, because a kind lady gave him coupons and discounts for her restaurant after helping her with the little mob that was trying to intimidate her.

Tim would very much like to take advantage of these discounts this weekend, so with the coupons in hand, the hassle, and boredom, the desire to return home were more powerful than ever, and he headed there in a hurry.

 When he took off his armor and looked comfortable enough to go to sleep, he went to bed to find what he wanted so badly to see: The Tim-burrito.

 He had convinced his boyfriend to take the night free after an especially busy project in WE, one that had kept him two days awake and working nonstop. When he suggested a break, his little bird had no will to refuse to rest, so finding him in their shared bed sleeping and almost drowned between the oversized blankets, was a complete victory.

He couldn't even see him correctly, because all that was in sight was his soft black hair, tousled and poking out between the sheets, but it was enough for Jason to smile tiredly and lie down next to him carefully.

 Settling properly next to him so as not to disturb his sleep or undo his nest, Jason sighed and felt the discomfort he had felt all night slowly disappear as he was near him. It had taken some time, many attempts at emotional conversations, and certainly tentative steps to get to the point where they were not, but without doubt he couldn’t regret it when he now had his warm presence at his side, being able to listen to his soft breathing and the way he murmured in dreams sometimes, seeing his face with that expression serene that he adored so much, and above all, being right at his fingertips.

 If Tim didn't want him to hug him while he slept, then he shouldn’t be that adorable in the first place. Because Jason loved holding him in his arms, he liked feel how his smaller body fit perfectly against his, loved to squeeze him and listen to those small and sharp whining of his, or kiss his head, hear his laugh, smell his hair, feel how he smiled on his skin.

He loved his babybird and his strange sleeping habits, or nesting, or stealing shirts, he liked too how little by little he looked willing to take care of himself a little more, to value himself just like he deserved. So, nobody could blame him if he got close in the mattress and tried to cover that Tim-burrito with his arm.

 He was on his side and his face half covered, Jason was convinced he was completely asleep, but when he put his arm over his covered waist to bring him a little closer, he heard a snort and a weak moan from him.

Slowly and wearily, Tim opened those blue eyes a bit to scowl at him and churning in his cocoon of blankets. Jason smiled sadly but at the same time moved by this.

 “Sorry Babybird, I didn’t want to wake you up.” He whispered, raising his hand to stroke his hair fondly. “Go back to sleep.”

 The smallest sighed and closed his eyes numb with the caresses, but before fall asleep again, shook his head and shifted, pulling the covers away from him to get closer to Jason with an intelligible grow. Jason snorted amused and allowed it, hugging him tighter this time while he settled on his chest and intertwined his legs. When Tim was finally comfortable enough, he raised his face and leaned down to kiss him despite being half asleep, and because of that he ended up kissing his chin instead, but Jason soon kissed his lips slightly while laughing.

 “Welcome home.” Tim murmured as they parted, each word tinged with love and adoration, hiding then his face in his neck to keep sleeping.

 And there, with the other clinging to him and his heart about to explode from everything he felt for that man, Jason realized that it was true, he was at home.

 Extra:

 When Tim returned from the office, he noticed that everything was silenter than normal.

 He knew Jason was home, today was his day off, and he had texted him asking what he wanted for dinner. But unlike most times than that happened, the kitchen was empty when normally there was Jay muttering and singing under his breath while cooking, so Tim soon started to look for him around the apartment.

 When he found the other, he relaxed and sighed with relief, smiling at the sight.

Jay had fallen asleep reading on the sofa, head down, leaning to one side with the loose book in his hands. The last few days he had been involved in difficult cases that required too much vigilance until late, so it wasn’t surprising that he was so tired.

 Without much thought, Tim dropped his briefcase from work, undid his tie, and approached him to pick up the book that lay forgotten on his lap, a collector's edition that he gave Jason for their anniversary and had made the tallest smile at him with intensity.

 Leaving the book on the table, he looked at his boyfriend tenderly, and he settled him on the sofa as best he could so that he didn't hurt his neck, then covered him with a blanket and kissed his cheek, then his temple.

 “I’m home.” He said, happier than he ever imagined.

[schweeeppess]

Hello! I was wondering if you have any tips on writing for the Batboys? I'm planning on writing fics for them but I don't completely have their personalities down/don't know exactly how to write them.

Alrighty, let's give some tips :D

Disclaimer: I am in no way an expert on these characters. This is my grasp on the characters and their behaviors, and I know more about certain characters than I do others. If I say something you don't like, die mad. If you think I'm wrong on something, I respectuflly and honestly say good for you but keep your opinion to yourself, please. Thanks.

Dick Grayson

Keep in mind for him the fact that he has anger management issues. It takes quite a bit to get him to snap, but when he does snap, it's a terrible day for all parties involved.

Dick isn't as happy-go-lucky as fandom likes to paint him. He is serious, he is grim, and he is realistic whenever the need for it arises. He's an optimist, yes, but he's beyond smart enough to discern a very serious situation and just how to go about dealing with it.

He is a detective. People tend to forget that, for some reason. He's just as capable as Bruce or Jason are at solving complex problems. He's not the best detective there is, no, but he's still definitely above average with observation skills and such.

He tries to be there for people, but he can get overwhelmed sometimes with all his commitments and might forget some things

Which brings up this point: He overworks himself and tends to agree to do more things than he can easily manage. Dick has an issue with that; overworking himself.

Dick is also a very emotional person. He thinks with his heart most of the time. The phrase "heart on his sleeve" was probably made specifically for him. Dick is open about certain emotions, but make no mistake about the fact that he can close off probably better than Tim whenever he wants to. He feels with everything in him.

He's smart, he's funny, he's genuine, he's protective, he's compassionate, he's dependable, and he's above all loyal and kind.

Dick trusts you until you give him a reason not to, to borrow a phrase.

I think a good song to capture his character would be "Human" by Rag'n'Bone Man.

Jason Todd

Ohhh boy. Here we go.

Say it with me: Jason. Does. Not. Enjoy. Killing.

Seriously, I don't really know where people get the idea that he does from? Jason kills, yes. But why does he do it? For the better. He kills out of mercy and justice for victims (yes that includes the Talon he killed; Talons are victims to the Court of Owls, and nothing more), not because he enjoys it. I am not justifying anything, I'm just explaining.

Jason is also a very emotional person, but he's more of a heart on his cheek kinda guy. He tries to trample them down, but they get the better of him sometimes. Take everything he did in Under the Red Hood as an example. He did what he did because he was hurt and in pain and he needed Bruce to feel the same way.

Jason is hesitant to trust people, very careful to make sure he can't let people close enough to hurt him the way he's been hurt so many times before.

Look, Jason's not a fundementally bad person. He's just been betrayed too many times for someone his age. His mom was a drug addict, and she died. His dad was an abusive father. Bruce was the first real parent Jason ever had, and Bruce replaced him when he died.

My point is, everyone Jason as ever trusted has either turned their backs on him or died. He has attatchment issues, trust issues, parental issues, and so many more I can't even list them all.

He's really fucking smart. (Keep in mind that he was top of all his classes in school.)

Jason is kind, compassionate, empathetic, and loyal. He can be aggressive, brash, and can make fucking stupidass decisions sometimes, but he's still good at heart. He does things with the best intentions (well, now, anyways. Pit Madness made him do some unfavorable things).

Everyone says Jason isn't patient or a planner, but excuse me this is the same Jason as the one who very carefully planned Bruce's death via bomb under the Batmobile, right? Or are you talking about a different Jason. He's careful and thinks things through, planning meticulously at certain points.

Hands down a good Jason song is "I'll Be Good" by Jaymes Young.

Tim Drake

HE'S NOT ADDICTED TO CAFFEINE!!! That's a fandom thing that I'm kinda getting sick of seeing everywhere!!!

Tim Drake, self-esteem issues, self-worth issues, and attatchment issues galore. He tends to think himself expendable and unimportant sometimes. He just generally thinks less of himself a percentage of the time.

He's fucking genius. Plans at least three steps ahead of everyone and anyone now, but... He's jaded at times. Very jaded.

Tim tries not to feel at all, sometimes. He closes himself off and distances himself from everyone ever since Kon, Bart, and Stephanie died. Of course, Kon and Bart came back, and Stephanie wasn't ever really dead, but that hardly means anything.

Tim is quiet and introverted, keeps to himself a lot, but that doesn't mean he's timid.

He's smart and he knows it, but he doesn't let that get to his head. He's cool but funny, he's wise but geeky, he's jaded but soft...

Tim is loose. He's still a teenager, albeit a teen who's gone through and seen a lot. He likes having fun.

He's not all shy and unnecessary apologies, he's not so jaded that he speaks down to everyone in clipped tones, he's not gonna go cry in a corner whenever his feelings get hurt, he's not going to have a fit when things go wrong.

Tim is complicated. He's a teenager.

He's serious but relaxed, strict but loose, calculating but calm, realistic but kind.

He's funny, smart, cunning, intellectual, realistic, caring, considerate, compassionate, empathetic, thoughtful...

Yeah uh let me just say there are so many layers to all of these characters it's so amazing and I really delight in them.

Damian Wayne

Damian isn't a stick-up-the-ass jerk, alright?

He's just a kid. A kid who's seen, experienced, and witnessed far too much for someone his age.

Keep that in mind.

He doesn't know what to do or how to behave. He went from the League, which was familiar and what he understood, to Gotham, somewhere unfamiliar and unknown. He had everything he knew stripped away and replaced with things he'd never even heard of, much less experienced.

He tries to hide it all behind a mask of bravado and superiority, but in reality he's lost and confused. He's struggling to adjust but is trying.

He's confused, uncertain, careful, and tentative, but he's also loyal, compassionate, funny, caring (in his own way), thoughtful, and actually charming (again in his own way).

He's struggling to adjust, but he's getting there.

[bigskydreaming]

Thinking about dc fandom always shitting on Dick's fashion sense and something else came up. My mutuals have turned into kpop fans, they keep posting these highly fashionable dudes' hq pics, they wear skirts, lace, ruffles, feather, glitter, all the colors.. They look good most of the times, they're not afraid to wear furry slippers or pigtails or prints, it's not what I'm used to seeing in white dominant industry. I bet Dick's fashion choices are like that n not what tasteless fanarts show.

I mean, I get what you’re saying, and I do agree in part, but also….that’s still not quite the entire issue for me.

Like…its basically just annoying the things people come up with to try and ‘bash’ him while still claiming to like the character, because honestly I believe that’s all it is. Just looking for excuses to make fun of him, and its so juvenile and pointless. There’s literally no basis for thinking Dick makes poor fashion choices in canon except for his costumes, he’s literally been a model, a socialite, a spy, and he’s routinely cited as being considered in-universe one of the most attractive people in both his civilian and superhero personas.

Like…people don’t generally fixate on the attractiveness of people whose clothes they’re busy mocking, you know?? LOL. It just makes no sense! When super hot people wear super weird clothes…..the comments are still usually about how they’re super hot, lmao. Look at like…things like the Met Gala. THAT’S the kind of ‘out there’ it takes for people to weigh in on celebrities wearing outfits that people find ridiculous despite their celeb status and attractiveness….

So, unless we’re pretending that Dick Grayson habitually wanders around wearing the equivalent of a celeb costume for the Met Gala ball in his civilian outfits…..nobody is focusing on his bad fashion sense when he’s just Dick Grayson, ergo….there is zero basis for saying when Dick Grayson is being Dick Grayson, he has no idea how to dress himself, or look good. In that respect, its that simple, y’know? 

Because the other thing is (and this is mostly where I disagree with you in execution, even though I get the spirit of your ask - like, I agree his fashion choices when he IS trying to stand out might be more eccentric than most people would usually go with, but he’d look damn good regardless) but I just mean….in his civilian persona, Dick never even really WANTS to be noticed, most of the time! He DOESN’T try and aim for the spotlight when he doesn’t have to be the center of attention like at some gala he’s forced to attend. He LIKES to blend in, go unnoticed….this is a guy who is fiercely fixated on being his own man, and KNOWN as his own man, noted for HIS accomplishments, HIS identity….not being seen as Bruce Wayne’s son first and foremost, or the Wayne Heir before all else….he just wants to be Dick Grayson. He’s never really liked the attention that comes with being a public figure due to being Bruce’s ward or son, at any point.

So its like…what about that suggests that he’s someone who either consciously or unknowingly goes around attracting attention with outfits that make him a public spectacle? He’s not some oblivious, air-headed ditz, he’s extremely aware of his surroundings at all times, lol.

Not a single thing about the fashion disaster fanon overall makes any sense, under any degree of scrutiny, unless you’re just committed to….making a mockery of him.

And the only thing it can be traced back to, the ONLY thing….are his costumes and his mullet.

Let’s tackle the mullet first - guys, its an anachronistic hairstyle. Its something he only had DECADES ago, in a time period when people actually wore their hair like that in the US. Get over it. EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER has similar periods in their history, lol. And yet, its only him that’s singled out as being so unfashionable he was wearing a mullet in fics set only five years ago, whereas everyone else’s hairstyles of a different era are left in that era. C’mon. Its transparent.

Which brings us back to his costumes. The pixie boots, the leotard, the Discowing with its bright blue and gold and scooped neck and high collar….

Now THOSE are unfashionable, fandom says.

Well see the problem with that, fandom….is by every canon out there…

DICK DIDN���T DESIGN THOSE OUTFITS TO FIT FASHION STANDARDS.

He wasn’t TRYING to win the good taste award and approval of the society he was in instead of his circus home, not by his own choice, and which frequently sneered down at him and tried to make him feel lesser. And the classism some of us are referring to when we mention this….is the assumption that his motivations are irrelevant, its only the approval and standards of ‘mainstream society’ that matters in whether or not his costumes are deemed ridiculous or not.

Except…..Dick’s costumes were designed not for fashion, but for SENTIMENTALITY.

They were meant to be reminders of where he came from. A way for him to hold on to his roots. For his circus past, his parents, his origins to be represented in his superheroics every bit as much as the skills he learned from Bruce and others.

It was his way of saying he at least had never forgotten where he came from and he never would, BECAUSE HE’S PROUD OF IT.

Shockingly, he’s PROUD of being a superhero who came from the circus….which is literally the only reason he was ABLE to become a child hero in the first place, because that’s where he attained his acrobatic skills that gave him enough of an advantage despite his age, that he could actually MAKE it as a superhero and vigilante.

The entire Robin legacy that’s at the center of so much of fandom’s conflicts and preferences….

IS BORN OF THE CIRCUS. THAT HE WANTED TO WEAR REMINDERS OF. TO BE COMFORTED BY VESTIGES OF HIS CHILDHOOD. MEMORABILIA THAT HONORED HIS FIRST FAMILY.

Robin doesn’t EXIST without the circus.

And frankly, as much as people dismiss this as being not that big of a deal, I find it gross, same as I do the jokes about his name. 

Because this is a fandom that is COMMITTED to defending the sentimentality and origins of their various fave members of this iconic found family.

Upholding where each of them came from as being just as iconic and important as where they ended up, as members of the Batfamily….

Except for Dick. Except for his circus roots. His costumes, honoring his roots. His childhood nickname, holding onto that last connection to his parents.

Only Dick isn’t allowed to have his sentimentality, without being made an object of mockery and silly, childish jokes. Because the circus is just funny, its not meant to be taken seriously, even as the object of an orphan’s deep and profound loss. Because his name is another word for penis, that’s all that matters, not that its one of the only mementos of his parents he actually managed to hold on to, that nobody could ever MAKE him give up or lose.

And that’s so….frustrating, irritating, and just….sad, y’know?

Because its not about the jokes. Its about the hypocrisy. Of trying to find deep meaning and introspection in the childhoods and origins of every single other member of this family except for the first one to actually MAKE it a family….because in his origins and childhoods, most people can’t be bothered to find anything but jokes.

Its all connected. Of course so many people have trouble acknowledging Dick’s traumas, his agency, his boundaries…..when they’re still unable or unwilling to get past the point of acknowledging his origins as a REAL place that REALLY mattered to him, just as much as the origins and roots of every single other member of this family.

When you treat where someone came from as a joke, a joke is all they’re ever going to be to you. Because shockingly….where we all come from, is kinda integral to who we are as people - whether real OR fictional.

[sassycassie-s-writing]

Manor Party

By: SassyShoulderAngel319

Fandom/Character(s): DC, BatFam, SuperFam - Damian Wayne/Robin & Jon Kent/Superboy

Rating: PG/K+

Original Idea: Where’s that AU list that’s like, “My friend dragged me to this house party and abandoned me and you asked me how I liked it and I complained that it was boring and then my friend came back and introduced you as the host” because that’s this.

Notes: (Masterlist)(By Character)(About Me) I swear I didn’t mean for this one to get this long. The story just kept happening. It’s got a Keep Reading because it’s 3,020 words.

^^^^^

“Hey Cloudy!” Jon called, running over to me.

“Hey Jon,” I replied. “What’s up?”

“So, my best friend invited me to this huge party he’s hosting at his house and said I could invite whoever I want because he trusts me and I was wondering if you’d want to come with me!”

“Like… a date?”

Jon blanched. “I wasn’t thinking about it being a date…” he trailed off. “I just thought it’d be more fun if you came with me.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re fun…”

I smiled. “Okay. When is it?”

“Friday. My parents are driving me there and they can pick you up too if you say you’ll go.”

I sighed. Friday was usually family movie night but… but it was only family movie night because I never went out. “Let me ask my parents. I'm available but I have to make sure they don’t have other plans.”

Jon fist-pumped. “YES! Thank you Cloudy! This is going to be so much fun!”

^^^^^

“Jon! Come say hi to Carrie!” someone called, yanking Jon away from me and making him disappear into the throng of people. The party was immensely crowded and dark. I could barely see.

I made my way to a corner and pulled my water bottle out of my bag, taking a long drink from it since my throat was so dry from yelling to be heard over the music and running around trying to keep up with Jon’s social life. It was a little quieter in the corner since the speakers were on the other side of the ballroom.

Because, oh right, the party was being held in a ballroom in a mansion in Gotham City.

Jon neglected to mention to me when he asked me to go with him that his best friend that he talked about all the time and invited Jon to the party was Damian Wayne—who I’d never met but heard a lot about from literally everyone else in the school who had met him.

In my quiet little corner I finally got a little bit of peace.

“Hey Jon, I know you can hear me,” I said at a normal volume even though the music drowned it out immediately. “So come find me in the corner by the tall arched window whenever you’re done socializing.”

Someone else emerged from the crowd moments later, a red cup in his hand.

He was shorter than Jon by several inches with dark skin and spiked black hair. His eyes were the greenest I’d ever seen and had a sharp-as-a-tack glint to them. He approached me and casually leaned against the wall, looking relieved to get out of the crowd as well. I slid my water bottle back into my bag and put it on my other shoulder, so it wasn’t near him.

“Enjoying the party?” the boy called over the din, arms folded.

“You want me to answer that honestly?” I shouted.

“Of course!”

“Okay then. No, I'm not. It’s too loud and too crowded and I only came here because a friend invited me and this is not my crowd at all!”

“Who invited you?” He seemed curious.

“His name’s Jon. Apparently the host is his best friend.”

“Ah that Jon,” the boy said in understanding.

“Yup,” I said.

“So how come you’re not enjoying the party?”

“Where do you want me to start?” I retorted sarcastically with a roll of my eyes.

“Tt. How about the beginning?”

I snorted. “Okay. It’s too loud. Too crowded. Too dark. The laser lights are blinding and I can barely hear myself think! This is not the kind of party I find fun!”

“Tt. I see. What kind of party do you find fun?”

“Five-to-ten friends playing games and laughing their heads off. This is the most boring party ever because it’s too impersonal!”

The boy smirked. “Valid.” I read it on his lips more than I heard it. I also thought I saw something like, “You would love the Titans,” but I couldn’t tell exactly because my lip-reading skills weren’t terribly advanced. “What about the host? Any opinion on him?” He yelled that over the noise.

“Never met him!” I shouted. “Heard a lot about him though! Most people say he’s an arrogant know-it-all but Jon loves him, so he really can’t be that bad.”

Another smirk. This one wider. “Jon not the type to be friends with an arrogant know-it-all?”

I shrugged. “Jon could make friends with a rabid animal if he so chose so really I couldn’t say. I mean, he befriended me and I'm not exactly Miss Innocent Sunshine.”

“Hey! Speaking of! I never caught your name!”

“Cloudy!” I shouted over the beating bass.

“Tt. That’s not a name! That’s a forecast!”

“My last name is McCloud so everyone calls me Cloudy! Even my parents!”

The boy looked contemplative. “Cloudy it is then!” he called. He stuck his hand out. I shook it. “Pleasure to meet you! I'm—”

“Cloudy!” Jon yelled, carefully pushing between two people to reach us. “There you are! I’ve been looking for you all over!” He caught sight of who I was standing with. “Oh great! You’ve already met Damian!”

My face went slack. Damian? Damian Wayne?! Had I just complained to the host of the party that this was the most boring party ever and that I’d heard he was an arrogant know-it-all? Oh sh—

“Tt. Yes she has,” Damian replied coolly. “Your friend here has given me most welcome advice on how to improve my gatherings and reputation, Kent.”

Kent? Damian knew Jon’s last name was Kent not White? I thought I was the only one who knew that. What else did Damian know about Jon? If he knew about Kent did he know about Superboy?

“Awesome! Cloudy’s really smart so her advice is probably good to follow.” He noticed the surprise on my face at the whole Kent thing. “Don’t worry Cloudy! Damian knows about me! He’s very trustworthy!”

“Right,” I managed to say at a normal volume. Jon heard me. Damian probably didn’t.

“Jonny boy!” a new voice called. A tall man in his mid- to late-20’s emerged from the crowd and playfully slung his arm around Jon’s shoulders. “Good to see ya kiddo! It’s been a while! How’s the parents?”

“Hi Richard!” Jon greeted.

“Grayson what are you doing here?” Damian demanded.

Richard Grayson. Better known as Dick Grayson. Bruce Wayne’s first ward.

He shrugged. “Chaperoning! Blüdhaven was boring so I thought I’d swing by and see how your party is going little brother!”

Damian rolled his eyes. “Tt,” he tutted.

Dick Grayson started talking to Jon, which gave me the opportunity to apologize.

“Damian, I am so sorry. If I’d known who you were—”

He held up a hand. “—you would have lied to spare my feelings. Polite and considerate, but unnecessary.”

“I wouldn’t have been so rude about my opinions,” I corrected.

“Tt. I prefer the honesty. And I will return your honesty to you. I do not enjoy parties like this either.”

“Then why did you throw it?”

“Expectations.”

I blinked. “Fair enough.”

“So, Kent!” Damian called to get Jon’s attention away from Dick Grayson. “Are you planning on staying the night?”

“Uh… no. Cloudy came with me and my parents so they’re her ride home…”

“She is welcome to stay as well. Any friend of yours who knows about you surely can be a friend of mine.” He gave me a nod. I blinked in surprise.

“Hey Dami, can I talk to you for a minute?” Dick Grayson asked.

Damian nodded then looked at me and Jon. “Excuse me a moment,” he said before striding after his brother.

Jon gave me a playful look. “I think he likes you,” he said.

“I think you’re delusional,” I replied.

“C’mon Cloudy. He invited you to stay the night! Damian doesn’t trust easily. Something like this is huge for him!”

“Is it?”

“Oh you have no idea. It took me almost three years to get him to trust me fully.”

“That’s fair,” I said. “Blabbermouth.”

Jon’s jaw dropped. “Hey! I'm great at keeping secrets!”

“Mmhmm. Says the guy who introduced himself to me as Jon Kent and then remembered his name was supposed to be White.” I spoke at a normal volume but Jon could hear me.

“Yeah… That’s on me,” he agreed. I snickered. “So do you want to stay the night or not?”

“Depends on how tired you are by the end. I don’t really want to but if your parents don’t want to come get us…”

“Well when the party’s winding down I’ll call Mom and see if she would rather go to bed. I mean Dad could be here in five minutes…”

“Neither of us brought pajamas,” I pointed out.

“Pfft! No big deal. I can borrow some of Tim’s and you can borrow some of Damian’s. They’ll fit you. I don’t know if you noticed, but Damian’s sixteen and two inches taller than you. He’s a squirt. But I gotta borrow Tim’s because I'm too tall for Damian’s pajamas.”

“Who’s Tim?”

“Tim Drake? His brother?”

“Oh right! Sorry!”

“No prob.” Jon scrunched his eyebrows. “Actually… Damian has a sister. You can probably borrow some of her pajamas.”

I glanced over at where Damian was talking to Dick Grayson out in the foyer. He really was only about two inches taller than me. And three years older than Jon… that made him two years older than me. Dang. I bet in the next year or so puberty was going to hit Damian like a frickin’ freight train. Five-three to six-three in like six months probably. His muscles would fill out and I could only imagine how many girls at school would swoon over him.

“We’ll think about it for the party okay? Then we’ll decide when it’s winding down!” I shouted.

“Deal!” Jon replied, beaming at me.

Damian came over to us. “So?” he asked.

“We’re gonna think about it.”

Damian looked between us. “Tt. I believed it would be easier for all parties involved if you stayed.”

“Probably will. When the party’s winding don we’re gonna call my parents!” “And I gotta call mine to make sure they’re okay with me staying over in another city at a family’s home that I’ve never been to before.”

“I could speak with them as well if they require convincing.”

“Could you have a more pretentious vocabulary if you tried?” Jon complained.

“Tt. Yes,” Damian replied. “Yes I could.”

A crack of deafening thunder, inseparable from the flash of lightning that caused it, shook the house. Thankfully the power stayed on, but everyone screamed. Rain started pounding the tall arched window we were standing near.

Jon and I glanced at each other. “Maybe we should stay,” I said quietly, knowing he would hear me. “We shouldn’t ask either of your parents to come get us in this weather. I'm going to call my parents and tell them it’s raining cats and dogs and I don’t think I’ll be making it home.”

Jon nodded. “Good idea.” He looked at Damian, jerking his head in the direction of the foyer. Damian nodded and led us out of the ballroom where the party was being held. Across the foyer, through a door, and into a kitchen. It was much quieter here. “We’re gonna call our parents and see if we can stay because of the weather.”

“A wise decision,” Damian said. “Shall I stay?”

“If you want,” Jon said.

“I would be grateful for the break,” Damian said. He glanced at me as I dug my phone out. “Are you comfortable with this?”

“Doesn’t matter,” I said. “Weather’s more important than my anxiety.”

“That’s not true,” Damian said. “Should you require, we can arrange to have you driven home.”

“I’ll be fine,” I said.

“Very well. Once arrangements are made with your parents I will go ask Cassandra if you may borrow a spare set of pajamas,” he relented.

I dialed my Mom’s number. “Thanks Damian.”

“Of course.”

Jon wiggled his eyebrow at me when Damian turned his back on him. He likes you! Jon mouthed, pointing at Damian. I rolled my eyes.

Delusional, I mouthed back when Damian’s back was to me.

“Hey honey.”

“Hi Mom. Listen, it’s pouring cats and dogs in Gotham. Like. The dangerous kind of rain. But Jon’s friend who’s hosting invited he and I to stay the night so Mr. and Mrs. White don’t have to drive into Gotham from Metropolis to come get us in the storm. Is that okay?”

“Are you okay with that, Cloudy?”

Off to the side, Jon was talking to Lois on his phone.

“I'm okay with it for one night with the storm.”

“What do Jon’s parents say?”

“He’s asking right now.”

“I’ll wait.”

Mom and I stayed on the line in awkward silence until Jon did a little excited dance. “Yes! Thanks Mom!” he exclaimed before turning to me. “She said it’s okay!”

“Mrs. White says it’s okay,” I told my mom.

“Well. If Lois is okay letting Jon stay the night I'm definitely okay with trusting you to stay the night.”

“Thank you, Mom.”

“See you tomorrow baby.”

“See you tomorrow.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too, Mama. Mwah!”

“Mwah.”

“Bye.”

Mom laughed. “Goodbye baby.”

When I hung up the phone, Damian was staring at me. I put my phone back in my bag. “What?” I asked defensively.

He shrugged. “You and your mother seem close.”

I nodded. “I’ve always had a good relationship with my parents. Their rules are reasonable and we talk things through when they have a problem with something I'm doing so I'm not really into the whole ‘rebellious teenager’ thing. My older sister on the other hand…” I trailed off and snickered to myself. “She’s more into the rebellious every age thing.”

“Sounds like Todd,” Damian remarked.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about but okay.”

“Todd is another brother of mine.”

“… Right.” How many kids did Bruce Wayne have again? Why did he have so many?

“My mother… I thought I was close to her growing up. It turned out I wasn’t. It’s nice to see close family relationships.”

“Thanks.”

Jon cleared his throat. “So! Should we head back into the party?”

“Yes of course,” Damian said. He led the way out of the kitchen, Jon and I right behind.

Jon was giving me eyebrow wiggles that I was trying really hard to ignore.

Once we were back in the party and Damian split off to go say hi to more guests, I whacked Jon in the chest with the back of my hand. “Would you quit it?!” I demanded.

“Quit what?” Jon asked innocently.

“You know what, you little twerp,” I retorted. I couldn’t help but smile, even if it was in exasperation.

He laughed. “We’ll see, Cloudy. We’ll see.”

^^^^^

Knock-knock! The curtness of the knock clued me in on who was at the door to the guest room I’d been put in for the night.

“Come in!” I called, yanking the sweatshirt the rest of the way down over the tank top. Gotham Academy of Dance was plastered on the front of the sweatshirt with some fancy logo that had laurel leaves on it.

“Has everything been to your satisfaction?” Damian asked.

“Everything except how exhausted I am. You’re being very gracious, Damian. Thank you for letting me stay along with Jon.”

Damian nodded. “Of course.” He paused. “Perhaps the next gathering will be smaller and more… what was the word you used? Personal?”

I smiled. “I said your party tonight was impersonal so yeah I guess. You’ll have to remind Jon to let me know how that goes,” I said.

“Tt. You assume you wouldn’t be invited.”

“You and I don’t know each other. I'm only here tonight because of Jon.”

“We go to the same school, do we not?” he asked.

“Well, I mean, yeah.”

“Then perhaps that will change.”

“Maybe,” I agreed, not holding out too much hope.

“I’ll leave you to your rest, Miss McCloud.”

“Just call me Cloudy. And thanks Damian. For everything. It was a nice party.”

“That you didn’t enjoy,” he pointed out.

I snickered. “Well, that kind of party isn’t my scene.”

“Understood. Goodnight, Miss Mc—Cloudy.”

“‘Night Damian,” I said. It was nearing midnight and I hadn’t stayed up that late in… months. Since New Year’s.

Damian bowed out of the guest room.

I climbed into the bed, shuffled around to get comfortable, and went to sleep, exhaustion from the party pulling me right under.

^^^^^

Jon was leaned against a wall in a set of Tim’s pajamas with his arms folded and a mischievous grin on his face. “Face it, Rob, you think she’s cute,” he said playfully.

“You’re mistaken, Kent,” Damian replied calmly, walking right past his best friend and heading for his own bedroom. Jon followed after. “Your friend is refreshingly intelligent and opinionated, but I don’t have time for cute.”

“Shame. ‘Cause I think she was diggin’ you too.”

“Kent?”

“Yeah?”

“Shut up.”

“Shutting.” Jon mimed zipping his mouth shut with an enormous close-lipped smile, shoved his hands into the pockets of Tim’s flannel pajama bottoms, and strolled off to the guest room he usually occupied when he stayed the night at Wayne Manor. He couldn’t help but plot ways to get Cloudy and Damian interested in each other. He could see it plain as day in the looks they gave each other. He could hear it in the fluctuations of their heartbeats.

Though, to be fair, he’d heard their entire conversation about how much she didn’t like the party and her heart fluctuations could have been embarrassment. That sounded more like the Cloudy he’d known for… years.

Jon wasn’t the type to cause drama, but he was definitely not going to let this opportunity pass him up. Damian and Cloudy would make a cute couple. Jon decided it was his job to make that happen.

Giggling he got in bed and snuggled down to sleep, the pounding rainstorm like a lullaby to him.