#driving headcanons

[mushroom-through-the-stargate]

expanding on my driving headcanons for absolutely no reason. this has no basis in canon its literally just vibes

as I said before, Daniel can't drive. at all. maybe a dune buggy to get around dig sites but an actual car on an actual road? absolutely not

Sam is either an extremely cautious driver or has a terrifying level of road rage

Jack is a decent driver and is usually the one to drive everyone around

and (this one does have basis in canon) Teal'c is a rigid rule follower and drives to the letter of the law - always uses his blinker, never U-turns in a no-U-turn zone, doesn't speed or run red lights, refuses to even start the car if someone isn't buckled.

[modaozushi-headcanons]

Mo Dao Zu Shi Driving Headcanons

Wei Wuxian:

drives kinda wild

would drive any kind of car but loves convertibles and Jeeps

Wei wuxian blasts music and sings at the top of his lungs

He's reckless but somehow manages to avoid everyone on the road, so it's fine?

He's most reckless when he's driving alone.

Lan Wangji:

very professional, textbook driver.

Keeps his hands in the 10 to 2 position, as you're taught and doesn't move them an inch.

Lan Wangji sits in silence or has soft classical music playing... sometimes music with flutes... (subtle, isn't he?)

To him, driving is a huge responsibility.

He drives the exact speed limit, how is that even possible??

Jiang Cheng:

has road rage

would probably roll down the window just to flip someone off.

Otherwise, he's pretty by the book and pleasant to drive with

Jiang doesn't listen to music, maybe the radio for the news. Or if he's with company, maybe he'll let them pick the music. But the first time he hears something he doesn't want to, it's back to silence.

Jin Ling:

Prefers to walk with Fairy when he can, but as for long distances... this baby is just learning how to drive.

Scared af, hits his brakes every second.

Uncle Cheng is scary when teaching him, but even scarier when someone cuts Jin Ling off

Jin Ling would soon take after his uncle a bit and yell at them when someone cuts him off, but is quieter. Also does a tiny flip off through the rearview mirror, not bold enough to roll down his window and actually confront the person. Only bold enough to grumble to himself about it and complain to his friends (let him have friends)

Jin Ling listens to music he thinks makes him look cool but actually makes him look baby.

Wen Ning:

probably scared too, like Jin Ling

drives slower than the speed limit.

Unlike Jin Ling, Wen Ning will always be gentle and polite, letting everyone pass him even if he'll be late to his destination.

He plays very soft music and bops gently.

Jiang Yanli:

perfect, beautiful, if anyone honks at her then expect wei wuxian and jiang chang to chase them off the road, (and they were only honking because she was hot)

she probably taught wei wuxian and jiang cheng how to drive

Lan Xichen:

goes with the flow of traffic but is almost always within the legal limit, (so 5 below, 5 above speed limit).

Is very courteous and tends to make the right action in every situation.

probably taught Lan Wangji. Their Uncle gave them both lessons, but Wangji learned a little more with Xichen who was a little more patient.

Nie Huaisang:

just not good.

Nie is the car everyone passes and cusses out to themselves.

Sometimes they cuss him out to his face. Jiang is probably guilty of it.

Nie probably cuts people off on accident, just trying his best

Should probably stay the passenger prince

Wen Qing:

amazing driver, but can get a little pissed when someone is blatantly in the wrong

Taught Wen Ning how to drive

Has a little bit of road rage, but only bites her cheek. What would be the point of yelling at them? Now, if she's the passenger and Wen Ning is driving, you can bet she'll roll the window down and stick her whole head out to give them a piece of her mind

[bunnions]

something something katsuki can't keep his hands off you when he's had a little too much to drink (see: denks the worst at-home bartender in the world, believes a shot of vodka really means four).

it starts off innocently enough, gathered in eijiro's living room, when he cracks a foul-mouthed joke and you double over into side with laughter. the heat starts to creep up his neck, but it's easy to blame it on the alcohol. he nudges you back playfully, a grin quirking at the corner of his lips.

two more shots of whatever vile concoction denki mixed up and he's melting into the couch. he's sitting on one end, a little squished with how mina, eijiro, hanta, and denki are piled on top of each other - chatting away, drinking, and desperately trying not to make eye contact with the wasted blond. katsuki's got you perched all pretty in his lap because "there isn't any room left to sit." a convenient excuse.

you're flushed and trying to keep up with mina's story and you're having a great time with your friends but katsuki's hands are looping casually around your waist and pulling you closer to him and he's leaning a little on you for support and you feel a zing speed down your spine as his lips brush against your arm. an accident.

his head's a little fuzzy, but katsuki's practically melting with the alcohol swimming through his veins. and you're so soft it's making everything even fuzzier. before he even finishes that thought he's testing out the plush of your waist, your thighs, pinching a little at the small of your back, and back down to your thighs. you squirm in his hold, and he retaliates with a soft grunt and by biting what he could reach.

the spit on your arm is more uncomfortable than the rather tame bite he gives you. you can see his eyes wobble, flitting to different parts of your face. "hol' s'till," he garbles and your heart leaps into your throat. you can feel four sets of eyes boring into you both, but you can't break away from katsuki's heavy, lidded, lovesick gaze.

[demigods-posts]

we already have the percy whose scalp is always somewhat damp because he wants to feel the moisture on his skin. the percy who takes bubble baths twice a week soley so he can nap underwater when he's away from the beach. the percy who once drank four gallons of water in two hours and felt like he was king of the world for a week straight. but give me the percy who gets overstimulated from being in the water too much. the percy who spent his three-day weekend putting a stop to a war between the fish of the pacific and atlantic ocean. the percy who returned home with his hair dry as a bone. the percy who locked himself in his room and refused to touch water unless he was nearly dying of thirst. the percy who damn-near asked his father to disown him for a few days because being directly linked to water made him want to cry.

[beaulesbian]

more one piece (mostly zolu) + text posts [2/?]

[hello-sweetheart]

You know that trope where Person A thinks Person B is just being nice but they’re actually flirting. What about the opposite? Person A misreading their behavior and being the only one falling impossibly in love.

Clumsy in Love part 1

Eddie really is just that nice and friendly, but Steve is convinced that Eddie is flirting with him. He’s flirting back, less confident and more subtle than he usually would, but he’s never liked a guy that way.

Not in a way that made him really want to spend every waking moment just hearing them ramble. Not in way that made Steve want to keep him the way he wants to keep Eddie. Everything is so new. It feels, delicate. Precious.

His heartbeat quickens each time Eddie leans into his space and it’s been happening all the time now that Steve worries he’ll develop a heart condition if he doesn’t deal with it soon. When Eddie laughs and leans his face closer to his own, looks into Steve’s eyes through those lashes in a way that Steve can’t help but take a quick glance at those lips curled is mischief.

He’s always so happy to see Steve, wasting no time in bouncing his way to greet him and pull him into the conversation with an arm slung around his shoulder. Then there’s the moments of shared glances when someone says something particularly astounding. And how Eddie will make his way into Steve’s space when they sit together, throwing his feet in his lap or leaning into his side.

Sure, Eddie is friendly but not to this extent. Not with everyone else. Steve feels it. Knows it. That electricity between them that makes this thing between them different. Special.

But one day (another that Steve spends trying to work up the courage to do something), they’re in the city shopping for music in an alternative store that’s tucked away. Steve is talking to Eddie, giddy and happy because it just them today, and Eddie is nodding along while he browses through the tapes and then,

Eddie looks up and stills, eyes widening just a bit. And Steve is still rambling along, but he can tell his words are just going through one ear and out the other. He trails of caught in the middle of his story because he’s never seen this look on Eddie face.

Eddie’s mouth is slightly agape, eyes alight caught in wonder and soft as he looks at something across the room and when Steve turns to see what caught his eye—

A guy stands a couple tables away looking at some vinyl and shyly smiling at Eddie in small glances. He’s a bit taller than them, dressed in black with a couple of piercings decorating his face, the sides of his head shaved short. Attractive, dementor coy and kind.

His heart skips a beat again, but it feels different this time.

Steve looks back at Eddie whose cheeks are slightly dusted in pink.

“Eddie-“

Eddie takes his lower lip between his teeth before smiling back at the guy and continuing without casting a second glance at Steve, “yeah, uh, give me a second, okay?” And he’s crossing the room without waiting for a response.

His chest. It feels…

Like those few seconds before plummeting down a rollercoaster… when your way up high, at the very top, the moment still with the anticipation of the fall, and there’s nowhere else to look but down.

You finally plummet and caught in the whiplash thinking you must have left your heart back at the top.

There’s static there on the bottoms of his feet and at the palm of his hands. The world goes a bit distant as he watches them.

Eddie’s leaning against the wall with a sultry smile adorning whatever sweet words he’s speaking.

Steve’s drowning in the honey, it’s palpable. doesn’t know if it’s better or worse that he can’t hear the words.

Eddie’s fiddling with a curl that’s draped over his shoulder, pulling it slightly over his face like a young school girl.

Steve doesn’t think he’s ever seen Eddie appear anything but confident and loud; the image of the person in front of him is foreign, strange.

Eddie’s speaking to him but his eyes are locked on the guy’s lips that are wet from the tongue that peaks to briefly lick them as he listens.

Eddie’s shoe is nudging the guys own, as he talks, playful.

Oh.

Oh.

Mouth dry, Steve’s throat clicks.

It’s hard to swallow.

Part 2

[holografrick]

ocean o’connell-rosenberg! favorite ride: bumper cars

also ur mother is back everyone ! is the rtc fandom still alive 😦

[chuluoyi]

The ask abt satoru helping pregnant! Reader to get up bc she's too plump to get up on our own after sitting down is PRICELESS!

But I was like gurl, I want to guilt trip him so bad.

Imagine he's teasing her again but she's actually pretty frustrated and like upset for some reason and she just tears up on the floor!

Imagine this poor man's reaction 😭😭

this time, it’s after you have your bath. you’re stuck in the bathtub and can’t get up—it’s always this way lately but satoru is always standing by at your beck and call to help you.

unless this time, when you call him, he’s just giggling away like the shithead he is.

“satoru!!! i can’t get up! just help me already!”

“ahahahah you’re so cute being stuck though!”

and hot, he added internally. the way the water cascades around your taut belly somehow turns him on. he’ll fight anyone who says that they no longer find their wives attractive while pregnant, because in his eyes, you look heavenly.

meanwhile, now you’re getting real upset. you’re self-conscious that he has to see you all naked after bath almost every day, and you take his laughing the wrong way.

and doubled with your hormones, you finally tear up. “hic…”

oh and satoru’s laughter immediately dies down, turns into a panicked frown as he approaches you and gets a hold over your body. “hey, hey… sorry—let’s get you out of here, yeah?”

you’re still sniffling even after he picks you up and dries you off, but then you’re getting louder after he puts you in your pajamas.

“hey… don’t cry, i’m sorry—”

“huwaaa!!”

or it could also be you’re just prolonging your cries so you can guilt trip him 💁🏻‍♀️ anyway, he doesn’t know, all he knows is seeing you crying makes him uneasy.

“stop crying…” he pulls you in his arms, patting you in the back with a sad face. “sorry. i’m sorry, okay? i don’t mean to make fun of you. it’s not good for you and the baby if you’re upset… so please?”

you roll your watery eyes at him, suddenly running out of tears and pulling away. “you’re a shit.”

“—! yeah. okay…”

“you’re the shittiest.”

“mm-hmm, whatever you say, sweets.”

and that night, following ‘whatever you say’ rule, he’s sleeping on the couch.

[konigsblog]

my thots on this post.

guns ‘n blowjobs...

simon riley who holds a gun on the back of your head while you're sucking him off.

his grunts are guttural and quiet as he gazes down at you, watching as you frantically suck him off sloppily, with drool and spit dripping from your chin. simon chuckles lowly, a cruel and taunting grin plastered on his face. “lower, baby. keep suckin’ me off... already got m‘finger on the trigger, don’t wanna see you’r guts.”

your eyes glisten with tears as you gag, forcing your head further down his shaft as he teases you, letting out soft cooes at the sight of you desperately trying to please him. “there’s m‘girl... there she is.” your lips become puffy, wrapped tightly around the base of his thick and veiny cock, mascara and tears covering your cheeks as you babble and mumble, crying gently through fear of not doing good enough for him.

the muzzle pressed against the back of your head is enough to send you spiralling, desperately trying to prove yourself as a good girl, that you can suck him off nicely. you gag loudly, forcing your lips fully down to his base, your nose pressed against his pubes. you cry weakly, shuddering and trembling as he presses the muzzle of the gun firmly against the back of your head.

“look so pretty on you’r knees, all f’me, yeah?” he cocks his head to the side, one large hand pushing your head down further, feeling the way he bulges out your throat. “cryin’ ‘nd slobberin’ all over you’rself...” he smacks the gun against your head, listening to your soft sniffles and weeps as he continues to grind his dick down your throat.

you bop your head slowly, holding his length by the base while you look up into his eyes obediently, seeing his dark eyes harden and narrow in on you behind the mask. he looks down at you with disgust, and some sort of sick and twisted desire; a used cumsleeve.

throwing his head back, his breathing becomes heavy and hot behind the skull balaclava, his orgasm rushing through him as he shoots ropes of his arousal all down your throat. he bucks his broad hips against your face, keeping your mouth down at the base, taking every drop of his pearly, milky, butter load.

he watches you pant heavily, eyes glistening and cheeks tearstained and glossy. his dick hangs low, balls heavy and still full. he presses the gun between your eyes, pushing you down onto your back and slowly dragging the muzzle of the gun down to your lips, forcing it into your mouth. your lips wrap around the muzzle of the gun, his finger nearing the trigger as he begins to rub his bulbous, hot shaft between your slit and clit, easing inside slowly while you cry and moan around the gun. your pleasured sounds become muffled, your eyes filled with delirium and ecsasty as he begins to fuck you restlessly.

one leg over his shoulder, allowing him to fuck deep into your slick and wet cunt. you rub your clit, your other hand gripping his gloved wrist, arousal dripping from your pussy as he continues to pound into you. each thrust has you moaning, with your eyes rolled to the back of your head and your cunny latching onto his thick, meaty cock. you look into his eyes; already cockdrunk, stupid off of his big dick. you're barely unable to mutter a coherent sentence out, moaning through pleasure at the feeling of his balls smacking against your ass.

your gummy, tight walls pulse around his shaft as he thrusts into you, driving his thick hips into yours. simon's wet, slick dick twitches and throbs deep inside your hole, your clit sensitive as you stimulate it with your fingers, desperately chasing that desired release that keeps you on edge. you become dizzy, arching your back as you suckle on the metal material, your drool dripping from the weapon as he teases you for getting off to this.

“such a filthy thing’, gettin’ off to this... huh? such a dumb slag, can’t even speak -- jus’ a moanin’, dumb mess.” each thrust has your body twitching and squirming, the sensation of your orgasm rupturing through you, causing you to squirt against his muscular, hairy abdomen, your juices coating his scarred skin. you pant, breathless as he doesn't stop for a second, still chasing his own release.

it doesn't take long for simon to be stuffing your swollen, puffy cunt full with his white, hot cum, droplets and fat globs of his load dripping out from your hole. your legs shake and tremble, lips puffy and cunt drooling, your body used and raw as simon takes a deep breath, admiring the mess he'd made of you.

[fishareglorious]

kakania numero uno reverse 1999 character on the fact she makes a dig on the sex life of the guy she was dueling with at the moment. while also somewhat kinda maybe implying she fucked his wife

[plistommy]

Steve’s always the one to drive Robin or the party around the town and really, he likes it. He doesn’t mind driving.

But when Eddie picks him up for their first ever date, opening his van’s door for Steve to get in like a gentleman and being the one to drive them while holding his hand on Steve’s thigh, Steve swears he had never blushed so hard.

[pebblul]

The ADA’s driving situation is so funny to me when I think about it, like-

Dazai is such a bad driver him even being near the car greatly increases your chances of crashing.

Atushi can’t drive for shit because he was stuck in the orphanage until he was 18.

Ranpo doesn’t even know how to ride a damn train and is so bad at navigating I can’t tell if he’s bullshitting or not.

Kenji probably didn’t even know what a car was until he joined the Agency.

Kunikida can maybe drive but he’s probably going way too fast at any given time regardless of the situation.

I don’t even want to think about what would happen if you put one of the Tanizaki siblings behind the wheel, especially if they were both in the car at the same time.

Have you ever seen Fukuzawa in the same room as a car?

And Yosano is yet to be determined.

So that leaves Kyouka. The 14 year old child as the Agency’s main driver when something comes up. And even she’s kinda reckless.

[wheezingstar]

Simon Riley LOVES those quiet car rides at midnight with a little music playing and you in the drivers seat. He has Insomnia, he loves the quiet of the rides to calm him when his brain is being too loud and if you aren’t up at the time he’ll leave a little note in case you wake up while he’s gone and if you are you’ll just tag along.

Simon Riley loves those little neck kisses when you’re alone in your room or in the car and you peck his cheek or neck at a red light. He’ll rest his hand on your thigh and squeeze it gently whenever you lean over the center console to kiss him.

Simon Riley loves those coffee dates you insist on taking him too even when he’ll be paying for whatever drink and a small snack you wish to get and his either choice of tea or coffee with the smallest bit of creamer and sugar.

[kingthunder]

I saw a few of those "bg3 characters driving a car" headcanons and decided to do one myself for fun.

Lae'zel: She learned how to drive on the opposite side of the road from everyone else and her instincts are all wrong for her current location, but back home she's an excellent driver with a spotless driving record. She actually follows the service schedule in the car manual. She gets incensed at people who don't maintain their vehicle properly or who disobey road rules. Her car is immaculately clean. She would love to speed a motorcycle down one of those desert highways with no speed limit, but she's never gotten the opportunity and knows it's too reckless besides. But she wants to.

Karlach: She's had a motorcycle for ages and is a skilled if aggressive driver. However, she only recently learned how to drive a car. She is very enthusiastic about it and always volunteers to drive even though she's not very good yet. She's one of those people that do driving "pranks" like swerving back and forth to make people shriek/laugh, or doing "3, 2, 1 BLASTOFF" and gunning it. Could easily be provoked into an impromptu street race. Drives way too far on empty or with the check engine light on.

Shadowheart: Drives stick so that no one else can drive her car. It's a beat up old station wagon with a busted tail light and looks like shit on the outside, but inside she turned it into a goth mobile with like black velvet seat covers and stuff. She named the car but she won't tell you what. She has an air freshener hanging from the rear view mirror that smells like night orchids. She's a perfectly good boring driver with nothing to note about it UNTIL one day a cop tries to pull her over for her busted tail light and she hits the gas and pulls out all these street racing moves that you had no idea she was capable of and shakes the cop. She'll let you pick the music but if she doesn't like it her silent disapproval is so withering that you voluntarily change it to something she does like.

Astarion: Never got a driver's license and isn't about to get one now. Passenger princess who likes to control the radio but his taste in music sucks. He makes funny mean comments about other drivers and pedestrians. He'll complain if you ask him to fill the gas tank but he'll do it; you're paying for it, though. Actually pretty fun to go on a road trip with because he doesn't care about stuff like "making good time" and he's up for stopping anywhere that looks like it might be entertaining.

Gale: Never got a driver's license because he was always too busy with his studies to care and his mom drove him around and/or did all his errands for him anyway. He's real good at maps though and likes to be helpful by being the navigator. He's the smartest man in the world but he's completely stymied by a gas pump; you're better off pumping the gas yourself and sending him into the gas station for snacks. He always manages to conjure a full meal out of convenience food, somehow, and he's really good at feeding you while you drive.

Wyll: He saved up and bought his own fixer-upper car after getting kicked out of the house as a teenager. Good driver in general. People always think he would make a good designated driver, but actually he likes drinking socially and will politely decline requests to be the DD unless there's no one else available. Sometimes when he's having a bad day he blasts music really loud and finds a deserted area to just fuckin tear ass down as fast as he can go (he'll only do this alone and doesn't tell anyone about it). Never lets you pay for gas even if you offer. Will pick up hitchhikers.

Halsin: Has been driving the same car since 1973. Drives that specific car really well. If you gave him a modern car he would have no idea what anything on the dashboard does. Honestly, he prefers to walk or bike anyway.

Jaheira: Has a fuck-off huge SUV full of empty cans and wrappers from her kids. Absolute maniac of a driver who tailgates and speeds with no regard for road signs or lane markings. She is going to GET where she is GOING and gods help you if you get in the way.

Minsc: Failed the driving test three times and just gets rides from Jaheira. This does not bother him in the slightest. He tells you that Boo can drive vehicles you've never even heard of.

Minthara: Has run someone over on purpose.

[ikarakie]

the first time wayne meets steve is actually far before the events of '86. in fact, it's in winter of '85.

he's on his way back from work when he pops a tire. he's pissed off, it's cold, still dark, and the beginnings of fucking snow are falling around him, and he doesn't have a spare. the nearest payphone is probably three miles walk, and he's just readying himself to make the journey when, miraculously, a pair of headlights turn onto the back road.

the car slows to a stop behind wayne's, and he's struck by how fucking nice it is. a brown bmw 733i, one he thinks he's seen around a couple times. when the driver steps out, he realises that, yes, he has seen this car. because the boy behind the wheel is the harrington boy, and wayne curses every god out there.

he expects some snark. a good attitude and for the kid to make him grovel for help or outright deny any assistance. instead, he approaches with these wide bambi eyes, the absolute picture of concern.

"are you alright, sir?" he asks, perfectly polite. wayne huffs.

"popped a tire, ain't got a spare." he doesn't- doesn't know why he's telling him. really doesn't. but something about the kid makes him falter, makes his steely exterior give way ever so slightly. the boy crouches down to the tire in question, frowning as he inspects it. then nods, grinning. he says nothing to wayne as he heads back to his car, and for moment he thinks the kid's gonna leave him in the dirt. but, instead, he pops the trunk and hauls out a spare, rolls it over to the car.

wayne only watches, fascinated, as he jogs back to retrieve a little set of tools. sits his ass by his tire and starts going at it. he's in a thin, short sleeved tshirt and jeans. he must be fucking freezing- wayne is, and he's got a thick coat, gloves and a hat on.

"what're you doin', boy?" he asks, unable to sound anything but bewildered. the kid blinks at him.

"changing your tire, sir?"

"i ain't got anything to pay you back with." wayne warns, wary. the kid shrugs, continues his task.

"that's okay, i wasn't going to ask you to." he pulls the popped tire off and lays it by his side. "it's just a good thing we have the same size, huh?" he grins, a little shy. wayne has never felt so thrown off in his life.

was this really james and cynthia harrington's boy? would someone of those people's blood really sit in the cold to change a strangers tire? expecting nothing in return? "where's your layers, kid? it's cold as ass out here, you'll catch a chill."

"oh, i gave it to my friend." seriously? seriously? "i'm alright sir, not to worry." he says this despite his red cheeks and reddening knuckles.

he finishes fitting the tire a second or two later, and once he's inspected it, gives wayne an endearingly dorky thumbs up. it reminds him of eddie in all the best ways. "all done, sir!" he collects up all his tools and threads an arm through the hole of the tire, balancing it on his shoulder. "i'll take this for you, i have to drive by the junkyard anyways." he doesn't. wayne knows the harrington's live in loch nora, and that's the opposite goddamn direction.

"you really a harrington?" he asks, not missing the confusion and maybe even slight disappointment he's met with. "just- no offence, son, but i always thought they were nothin' but bad." he deflates even more, if possible. "how did they raise such a kind boy?"

it's such a sudden change, how quickly he's smiling, bright enough to light the damn road if he wanted. it's all bashful and excited, it makes wayne wonder if he's never heard a good word about himself in his life, which seems insane.

"i still got a bit of an asshole gene," he jokes, a little dry, "but i'm trying to be better, you know?" he motions to the tire. "if you can help, why shouldn't you?"

wayne wants to squeeze him, but refrains. thanks him a couple times over and forces the boy to take his hat before he goes, (despite his complaints). harrington bids him farewell and a safe drive home, and he's driving off before either realise they never learnt each other's names.

(wayne finds his out later, though, when eddie meets him at the door, worried that he's late. only after he's walked his nephew through the story three times and sworn up and down, yes, it was true, and yes, it was definitely harrington. steve harrington.

when they meet again after '86, in eddie's hospital room, that boy from all that time ago holding his nephew's hand, he does give him that hug. thanks him, for both this time and the last.

steve wears the hat in winter of '86. it makes wayne smile.)

[starry-bi-sky]

i need to get this out of my head before i continue clone^2 but danny being the first batkid. Like, standard procedure stuff: his parents and sister die, danny ends up with Vlad Masters. He drags him along to stereotypical galas and stuff; Danny is not having a good time.

He ends up going to one of the Wayne Galas being hosted ever since elusive Bruce Wayne has returned to Gotham. Vlad is crowing about having this opportunity as he's been wanting to sink his claws into the company for a long while now. Danny is too busy grieving to care what he wants.

And like most Galas, once Vlad is done showing him off to the other socialites and the like, he disappears. Off to a dark corner, or to one of the many balconies; doesn't matter. There he runs into said star of the show, Bruce who is still young, has been Batman for at least a year at this point, but still getting used to all these damn people and socializing. He's stepped off to hide for a few minutes before stepping back into the shark tank.

And he runs into a kid with circles under his eyes and a dull gleam in them. Familiar, like looking into a mirror.

Danny tries to excuse himself, he hasn't stopped crying since his parents died and it's been months. He rubs his eyes and stands up, and stumbles over a half-hearted apology to Mister Wayne. Some of Vlad's etiquette lessons kicking in.

Bruce is awkward, but he softens. "That's alright, lad," he says, pulling up some of that Brucie Wayne confidence, "I was just coming out here to get some fresh air."

There's a little pressing; Bruce asks who he's here with, Danny says, voice quiet and grief-stricken, that he's with his godfather Vlad Masters. Bruce asks him if he knows where he is, and Danny tells him he does. Bruce offers to leave, Danny tells him to do whatever he wants.

It ends with Bruce staying, standing off to the side with Danny in silence. Neither of them say a word, and Danny eventually leaves first in that same silence.

Bruce looks into Vlad Masters after everything is over, his interest piqued. He finds news about him taking in Danny Fenton: he looks into Danny Fenton. He finds news articles about his parents' deaths, their occupations, everything he can get his hands on.

At the next gala, he sees Danny again. And he looks the same as ever: quiet like a ghost, just as pale, and full of grief. Bruce sits in silence with him again for nearly ten minutes before he strikes a conversation.

"Do you like to do anything?"

Nothing. Just silence.

Bruce isn't quite sure what to do: comfort is not his forte, and Danny doesn't know him. He's smart enough to know that. So he starts talking about other things; anything he can think of that Brucie Wayne might say, that also wasn't inappropriate for a kid to hear.

Danny says nothing the entire time, and is again the first to leave.

Bruce watches from a distance as he intercts with Vlad Masters; how Vlad Masters interacts with him. He doesn't like what he sees: Vlad Masters keeps a hand on Danny's shoulder like one would hold onto the collar of a dog. He parades him around like a trophy he won.

And there are moments, when someone gets too close or when someone tries to shake Danny's hand, of deep possessiveness that flints over Vlad Masters' eyes. Like a dragon guarding a horde.

He plays the act of doting godfather well: but Bruce knows a liar when he sees one. Like recognizes like.

Danny is dull-eyed and blank faced the entire time; he looks miserable.

So Bruce tries to host more parties; if only so that he can talk to Danny alone. Vlad seems all too happy to attend, toting Danny along like a ribbon, and on the dot every hour, Danny slips away to somewhere to hide. Bruce appears twenty minutes later.

"I was looking into your godfather's company," he says one night, trying to think of more things to say. Some nights all they do is sit in silence. "Some of my shareholders were thinking of partnering up--"

"Don't."

He stops. Danny hardly says a word to him, he doesn't even look at him -- he's sitting on the ground, his head in his knees. Like he's trying to hide from the world. But he's looking, blue eyes piercing up at Bruce.

Bruce tilts his head, practiced puppy-like. "Pardon?"

"Don't." Danny says, strongly. "Don't make any deals with Vlad."

It's the most words Danny's spoken to him, and there's a look in his eyes like a candle finding its spark. Something hard. Bruce presses further, "And why is that?"

The spark flutters, and flushes out. Danny blinks like he's coming out of a trance, and slumps back into himself. "Just don't."

Bruce stares at him, thoughtful, before looking away. "Alright. I won't."

And they fall back into silence.

Danny, when he leaves, turns to look at Bruce, "I mean it." He says; soft like he's telling a secret, "Don't make any deals with him. Don't be alone with him. Don't work with him."

He's scampered away before Bruce can question him further.

(He never planned on working with Vlad Masters and his company; he's done his research. He's seen the misfortune. But nothing ever leads back to him. There's no evidence of anything. But Danny knows something.)

At their next meeting, Danny starts the conversation. It's new, and it's welcomed. He says, cutting through their five minute quiet, that he likes stars. And he doesn't like that he can't see them in Gotham.

Bruce hums in interest, and Danny continues talking. It's as if floodgates had been opened, and as Bruce takes a sip of his wine, it tastes like victory.

("Tucker told me once--") ("Tucker?") ("Oh-- uh, one of my best friends. He's a tech geek. We haven't talked in a while.")

(Danny shut down in his grief -- his friends are worried, but can't reach him. When he goes back to the manor with Vlad, he fishes out his phone and sends them a message.)

(They are ecstatic to hear from him.)

It all culminates until one day, when Danny is leaving to go back inside, that Bruce speaks up. "You know," He says, leaning against the railing. "The manor has many rooms; plenty of space for a guest."

The implication there, hidden between the lines. And Danny is smart, he looks at Bruce with a sharp glean in his eyes, and he nods. "Good to know."

The next time they see each other, Danny has something in his hands. "Can you hold onto something for me?" He asks.

When Bruce agrees, Danny places a pearl into his palm. or, at least, it's something that looks like a pearl. Because it's cold to the touch; sinking into Bruce's white silk gloves with ease and shimmering like an opal. It moves a little as it settles into his hand, and the moves like its full of liquid.

Bruce has never seen anything like it before, but he does know this; it's not human. "What is it?" He asks, and Danny looks uncomfortable.

"I can't tell you that." He says, shifting on his foot like he's scared of someone seeing it. "But please be careful with it. Treat it like it's extremely fragile."

When Bruce gets home, he puts it in an empty ring box and hides the box in the cave. He tries researching into what it is. he can't find anything concrete.

Everything comes to a head one day when Danny appears at the manor's doorstep one evening, soaking wet in the rain, and bleeding from the side.