#i like to think Bruce knows some Kryptonian since he had to research some old records of Krypton

[3lluon]

Kryptonese workshopping session

Follow up of this:

[butwhyduh]

A Date to Remember

Damian Wayne x Superman’s daughter reader

Damian is 20, reader 19, Jon is her little brother at 18 and Kon acts like an older brother to her.

Warning: angsty and kidnapping

You’d always told Damian that the sunset on the Kent farm was the best in the world. Damian smiled a little as he drove down the long road to Smallville. Damian had thought about classic dinner date in one of Metropolis’ fanciest restaurants but you insisted on meeting him in a barn.

He felt underdressed. Blue jeans and a flannel shirt. Why did he let Jon help him get dressed? He felt ridiculous but at least he wore sensible shoes. But deep down Damian knew you world like it. And he was certainly willing to feel a little foolish for you.

Clark was off world and Lois was on a mission. Jon had his own date in the city so it was the both of you alone tonight. How long had it been since the two of you were alone without someone around? Between his half a dozen brothers and your family with literal super hearing... yeah it’s been tough. So being 50 miles from everyone was kind of a dream.

Damian pulled in the driveway with some flowers and walked up to the house. He knocked on the door only for it to swing open. Damian noticed the splintered door frame and his heart sped up. He called your name. Act like the rich billionaire son while working like Robin, even though he wasn’t quite sure he still wanted the name.

He scanned every surface and he noticed a small scratch near the back door after looking through every room. Most people wouldn’t even notice it. You weren’t there. He looked closely and saw drag marks in the gravel path to the barn. His heart was thundering at this point. You weren’t in the barn either.

You were half Kryptonian but the genetic inheritance was complicated. Jon had won the lottery with having most of his father’s powers and not being as sensitive to Kryptonite. You had lost it. Hypersensitive to Kryptonite and only some speed and increased hearing and strength. Barely about the average human. You weren’t a fighter.

Damian pulled out his phone to call Jon.

“Bit busy here, Damian,” Jon said, sounding far from amused. Damian could hear kissing noises in the background and frowned. He didn’t want to hear that.

“Your sister is missing,” he said and he heard a lot of movement on the phone.

“What??”

“The door jam was kicked in and there are scrap marks of her being dragged away. I think she’s been kidnapped,” Damian said. His voice felt tight. He, son of Batman, let his girlfriend get kidnapped. “Whoever it was clearly waited until she had no other Kryptonians around to grab her. It wasn’t a coincidence that she was taken tonight. Can you get out here? I’m calling father to try and trace her. Her phone is missing too.”

“I’m leaving in 5. Damian, if Luther has her, she can’t handle Krytonite,” Jon said, worry bleeding into his voice. “It’s like it poisons her.”

“I know. But we don’t know who has her. Let’s hope they don’t know she’s part Krytonian,” Damian said, already mentally moving on to his next step. Contact Bruce. Get the bat computer to trace her. Look for more evidence. Don’t freak out completely that she might be poisoned by Kyrotonite.

“Okay. I’m about to fly. I’ll see you soon,” Jon said before hanging up.

——————————

You woke up with a cough. You head throbbed and your stomach rolled as you laid in a bed? Maybe a couch? It was a horrible feeling but you knew exactly what it was: Kryptonite. You couldn’t forget what how that stuff made you feel. You tried to look around to see it but the room was completely dark. Night vision would be nice but you got human eyes. Your slightly enhanced hearing heard nothing but the wind outside. Okay, you were ground level or higher.

You tried to twist in the cuffs that bound your hands only to cry out. There was the Kryptonite. It was on the outside of the cuffs and you almost threw up at it touched your skin. You were cuffed with Kryptonite to a hospital bed, you figured. What other bed had areas perfect for cuffs? Your legs were equally restrained and you felt so exposed in the dark room.

Your dad was off world. He wouldn’t hear you if you called for him. But Jon might. But if you yelled, someone might come in and who knows what they would do. You’d wait a little bit longer. You wanted to fall asleep. The Kryptonite made you feel so dull. Like the first time you were exposed to it.

You were all of 4 years old. Your dad had brought you with him to the Justice League meeting. Relatively safe and Batman promised Robin would watch you. Dick was so excited to be a babysitter. You had hugged him tight enough to hurt before running to the climbing wall.

“Hey!” Called the 16 year old. “I brought games instead!”

You warily walked back over to him and card games and board games fell out of a duffle bag as he opened it. Half the stuff you were far too young for. You bent down as he scooped up his gameboy. You pulled out some games and open a side pocket to grab a small metal box. Dick sat down his gameboy carefully before turning back to you.

“Don’t open th-“ he started before you pulled open the box to show a bright green stone. Followed by you throwing up all over his bag of games. You dropped the box and sat on the floor. Dick quickly closed the box with the piece of Kryptonite and put it in his pocket. He had boroughed one of Bruce’s bags that apparently wasn’t fully unpacked.

“Dad, I don’t feel good,” you said as Clark ran over. Dick looked at you so guiltily.

“I didn’t know,” he swore. “I’m so sorry.” Bruce stood by quietly.

“We need to talk later,” Clark had told Bruce and yeah, they were mad at each other for a while.

——————————————

Jon arrived shortly in a dress shirt and slacks and he looked at Damian just as weird as Damian looked at him. They had basically switched clothing.

“Not to judge but that’s date clothing? You told me to not wear flannel,” Jon said accusingly.

“That’s because your sister wanted me to wear this,” Damian said back. “Let’s focus on finding her. Father’s calling me now. We’ll change in a minute.”

“Hello, you’re on speaker phone,” Damian said.

“Her tracker is showing a warehouse owned by Luthor Corp in downtown Metropolis,” Bruce said. “Do you need help? I can see if Dick is nearby.”

“No thanks. Jon will help me. Thank you, father,” Damian said before hanging up.

“Luthor. I knew it,” Jon said with a frown. “Wait, you put a tracker on my sister? Does she know?”

“Now is not the time. Let’s get to Metropolis,” Damian said, changing the subject while both got dressed. Jon nodded and offered his arms. “I’m not being carried like that. I’ll hold on your back,” Damian said. Jon rolled his eyes and nodded again.

As they flew over corn fields and pastures, Jon began to question Damian. “So when did you put this tracker in? Does she even know? Where is it? Do I want to even know?”

“It’s sub-dermal in her forearm and I haven’t told her yet. And it’s irrelevant right now as it might save her life,” Damian said and Jon looked disgusted. “We need to focus on saving her and then you can be her angry brother.”

“Wow...”

————————————

You moved and the cuffs burned your skin. You gasped and screamed “Jon! Kon!” You called out to them hoping one of them would hear you.

“Dad!” you cried frantic. There was no way he would hear you. “Damian! Jonathan! Conner!”

You panted and your head pounded. You were so tired. You’d lose consciousness if no one saved you. Then who knows what they would do to you.

“Superman!” You screamed desperately before finally passing out.

——————————

“Did you hear that?” Jon said as they flew towards the Metropolis skyline.

“No all I hear is wind. What did you hear?” Damian said.

“Y/n. She’s calling for us,” Jon said speeding up.

“Is she okay?” Fear bled into Damian’s voice.

“I can’t tell. I’m trying to hurry,” Jon said flying quickly towards the industrial area of the city. He landed on the roof of a warehouse. Jon’s eyes glowed as he looked through the building.

“7 men. 4 posted outside the door to the room that’s she’s being held on the 2nd floor. Her heart rate is steady and she isn’t screaming any more. Almost sounds asleep,” Jon said after his analysis.

“Probably tranquilizer. Father’s data said this building is used for research purposes. Does that fit?” Damian asked.

“Uh more like research subject holding. Maybe a small lab on the first floor but other than cameras everywhere, there isn’t much science stuff that I can scan. But also the basement is sealed off,” Jon said.

“How?”

“Lead bound. You can check it out while I rescue her. 4 guys is nothing,” Jon said making a fist.

“Hold on. Luthor would probably have her surrounded by Kryptonite. Just in case one of you look for her. And that’s the last thing we need,” Damian said. “I’ll rescue her and you look for the basement. Knowing Luthor, it’s probably an entire facility of experiments below. He just hadn’t gotten her room ready yet.”

Jon looked frustrated. “Fine. You rescue her but be careful. She is the weakest of us. She’s not invulnerable to bullets or anything.”

“Most of the people I rescue aren’t either,” Damian reminded him. “And I’m certainly not taking a chance with my beloved.”

Jon looked over to respond but Damian was already gone. Just like the rest of the bats: silent goodbyes. Jon quietly moved down to the first floor. He was working but at the same time, his ear was trained on his sister’s heartbeat. Jon might be the younger sibling but she didn’t have powers and he felt so protective.

—————————————

Damian rolled his eyes at the 5 ways he could see that the security sucks in the 3 minutes he hung out the window before climbing in. Large rafters and guards who didn’t bother to look up. Not to mention the fact that they let there be a solid wall between the set of guards which meant that Damian was easily able to jump down to knock them out in pairs without the other set knowing. If the security was any worse they would leave the door unlocked.

The door wasn’t unlocked but it was a deadbolt that Damian easily disabled. If he didn’t know any better, he’d say it was on purpose. He gulped before opening the door. What if you were really hurt? Or dead? Ignore and get in there.

Damian opened the door and he felt white hot rage. You were tied to a bed and were unconscious. You were in a nice dressy shirt and sweatpants. They’d clearly taken you while you were getting dressed. Damian wanted to kill them. He had to take a breath to help you. Jon was taking them out and Damian was on rescue. He had to stay level headed.

Even the cuffs on your wrists were inadequate. If they had attempted to restrain Damian, he would have gotten out in 3 minutes. When he was 6 years old. The Kryptonite had left nasty red burns on your skin and he clenched his jaw at the sight. Jon better be punching extra hard.

Damian picked you up bridal style and you groaned a little before turning your head against his chest. The farther he got you from that fucking Kryotonite the better you were. He took you to the roof and you started waking up.

“Damian,” you said softly and a little confused.

“Hey you’re awake. How are you feeling?” He asked looking all over your face for injury.

“Kryptonite. I hate that stuff,” you said. Damian grabbed your hand and you hissed. He looked to see bright red knuckles. You’d clearly fought at some point. He certainly knew the signs of punching someone.

“You fought back?”

“Yeah and hitting someone in a helmet and body armor sucks. I got just a few in before they pulled out the damn rock. I throw up every damn time,” you said shaking your head.

Before Damian could comment on how brave and stupid it was to punch body armor, there was a huge crash down on the first floor as someone flew in the building through the window. You grabbed him tightly.

“What the hell is that?”

“Kon. Conner’s here. I’m up here,” you yelled.

Conner flew up to the roof. “Are you okay? What’s going on?”

“Kidnapped. Damian and Jon saved me. He’s still down there actually. Can you check on him?” You said. Damian suddenly stood up.

“What if you were a distraction and the real problem is downstairs?” Damian suddenly said with clarity. The Kryptonite alone was enough to hold you down. The half ass security was to hold their attention when they rescued you. Jon was already flying back down before Damian could say more. Damian weighed his options: leave you alone, bring you with him, or stay out of it and while the last sounded nice, he’d have to go in case of more Kryptonite.

Before Damian could decide, Kon was back on the roof. “You’ve got to come see this.”

Downstairs was a lead lined basement. That alone had you nervous. Jon stood by the door. Little spattering of blood could be seen on his hands. He had a hard look.

“Warning: this is going to be messed up,” he said and you were even more worried. You walked in to see cages. Kids. Unconscious adults lay around in the hallway. “They were experimenting on them.”

You felt nauseous.

“My father is on the way. This is much bigger than I thought,” Damian said messing with his comms. His free hand was on your shoulder protectively.

There were 8 kids in cages. Bruce was running tests on their blood and investigating the area as you helped to get them out of the cages. What a terrible Valentine’s Day.

“Beloved, let’s get you home. We can stay at the farm tonight. You need sleep,” Damian said worried. You looked at him distracted.

“They’re just kids.”

“Come on. Let’s go. Kon is going to stay there too. Just for the night,” Damian said helping you up. Kon flew you both back to the farm.

“I’m going back to help. You okay, kid,” Kon asked as Damian inspected the house.

“I’ll be alright. Just help those kids,” you said.

“Yeah, of course,” he said ruffling your head. You rolled your eyes. “But seriously, the way you screamed I thought you were being murdered.”

You stiffened. “I’m fine. Thanks.”

Kon knew when to quit. Something he had learned from Tim. He gave you a big hug and flew off towards Metropolis.

“Hey. I made your bed so you can sleep,” Damian said quietly. “And a change of clothes.”

You nodded and went upstairs. Damian helped pull off your shirt and put on a sweater. He looked at the marks around your wrist and red knuckles but didn’t note any more bruises or cuts. You pulled on sweatpants and climbed in small twin bed that Lois kept for guests. The pink and yellow flowery quilt felt warm and comforting on your skin. Damian lay beside you after changing and looked at you seriously.

“What is it,” you asked.

“I was so scared tonight. I have been doing this for years and I’ve never been so worried,” he said softly and you looked down and flushed. If you weren’t so freaking sensitive to Kryptonite this wouldn’t have happened. Damian gently lifted your chin and you looked at him.

“I was scared to lose you,” he said running his thumb across your cheek. “I’m going to drive you absolutely mad because I don’t want to take my eyes off of you.”

“Yeah?” You said with a little smile.

“Uh hm. But first sleep,” he said and your body certainly agreed. You curled into him and rest your head on his chest. His arms held you tightly before rubbing your back. You fell asleep to Damian staring at you. He stared at you all night, not even sleeping when Kon came in a few hours later.

———————————

“I have to know what all that was, Bruce,” you said at the Batcave the next day. “I was in there.”

He looked at you for a minute. “They were experimenting with meta DNA. All of those kids have gifts and they wanted to take you too. There were even plans to inject those kids with your blood to see if it would affect them.”

You shivered a little at the thought. Lex Luthor and his obsession with Kryptonian DNA.

“All the records were burned. Most of the warehouse too. Your brothers were.... thorough. And Clark will be home in a few days,” Bruce added.

“Really?”

“Yes. And he’s furious at Luthor. Probably will call soon. He wanted to let you sleep earlier. We’re just running programs here. Why don’t you and Damian go upstairs,” he suggested.

“Bruce Wayne,” came a stern voice behind you. You turned to see your mother, Lois Lane, looking like she was going to beat up Batman. “You put a tracker in my daughter without her permission?”

“You what?” You said.

“Actually that was Damian. Though I want to point out that it helped save her life,” Bruce added. Lois slapped him soundly across the cheek. Bruce just blinked and rubbed his cheek.

“Damian, you put a tracker in me?” You asked shocked. You’d assumed Jon had heard you or Damian’s detective work brought them to the warehouse. Not an invasive tracker in your body. “What the hell?”

“Well I can explain..”

[fishfingersandjellybabies]

In Your Father’s Eyes - fic

Characters: Damian Wayne, Jon Kent, Dick Grayson, Bruce Wayne, Lois Lane, Alfred Pennyworth, little bit of Clark Kent and Tim Drake and literally everyone Pairing: jondami Summary: Of all the things and all the experiences they thought Jon and Damian would have, it certainly wasn’t this. But they’re all better for it anyway.  A/N: A commission for the lovely @heraldofsong! I hope you enjoy it. :) They asked for a bittersweety fluffy story about the Batfam’s reactions/reminiscing to Jon and Damian having a baby. I chose the middle name ‘Charlotte’ because according to the internet it meant ‘freedom’ or ‘free’ and I felt that described an adult Jon and Damian very well. Barry went with Lois downstairs in case Jon and Damian emerged while she was gone, he could rush her back up. Also, it goes without saying, the Flashes brought Steph, Cass and Kara back from the gift shop the same way. Jon is petrified of holding or even touching the baby sometimes. He eventually gets over that. Some vibes for this fic are ‘Mango Dream’ by Afternoon Bike Ride. 

~~

It was a quiet afternoon at the manor. The warm sun peeking through the curtains. Birds chirping outside. The contented crackle of flame in the fireplace as he and Alfred each sat in a recliner reading a book.

Then Tim called.

“Conner and I are on our way to the hospital. Just about there, actually.” He said urgently. “Damian and Jon were taken there by a group of Green Lanterns.”

“What happened?” Bruce demanded, jumping from his chair as quickly as his old bones would allow him. Alfred glanced up from his novel, closing it immediately.

“That’s the thing…I…I’m not sure.” Tim offered. “I’ve already talked to Damian. He said neither of them were really hurt at all. Just that he needs us there. All of us.”

That was enough for Bruce.

Tim said he’d already called the others, and was in the process of sending Bruce the hospital coordinates. As Bruce and Alfred gathered their coats and head to the car, Bruce’s phone pinged again with a text.

I think you might want to bring your credit card.

Bruce rolled his eyes at Tim’s instruction, but checked his wallet anyway.

The hospital wasn’t in Gotham, or Metropolis, but a smaller city in between. A medium-sized research hospital that the League used often. Out of the way, but staffed with the most skilled in the world, and able to keep a secret or two.

Bruce could already see the gaggle of Green Lanterns on the roof as they pulled in to the parking lot. But judging by their relaxed body language, just like Tim had said, there was no emergency.

So what…?

Lois and Barry were in the lobby waiting for them. She smirked when she saw them, crossing her arms.

“What’s happening?” Bruce demanded. “Are the boys alright?”

“Perfect.” Lois let her smirk become a wide grin. There was a giddy shriek from nearby, and Bruce glanced over. It came from the gift shop, where he could see Stephanie holding something up, showing a confused Cass and judgmental Kara. “We were just waiting here for you to take you to the right ward.”

“Well, I must say, judging by everyone’s attitude, I can’t imagine it’s the ICU.” Alfred quipped. Barry laughed and clapped a hand on his shoulder.

“Nope.” Lois spun away, all but skipping as she led the way. “Barry, you ready to catch him?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She glanced over her shoulder. “We’re heading to the maternity ward.”

Bruce froze.

“…What?”

Barry was instantly at his shoulder, an arm hovering against his back.

“Ms. Lane…” Alfred said slowly. Laughter from the gift shop again, and now Bruce could see what Stephanie was showing the others – baby clothes.

“Wild, right?” She nodded, urging them both to follow. “But it’s true.”

“Apparently the boys were on a mission with a few of the Lanterns, on some planet.” Barry explained as he gently pushed them along. “This planet has way more advanced in vitro fertilization technology than on Earth. Than in the whole damn Milky Way. But apparently a major part of the fight was in a science lab. And I don’t know if it was from blood from injuries or sweat from exertion or what, but somehow both their DNA got into one of the machines, and literally hours later, a baby was being born.”

“An…alien child?” Alfred asked.

“You’d think that, but no. One-hundred percent Damian and Jon. So, only twenty-five percent alien, Kryptonian, from Jon’s side.” Barry hummed. “It wasn’t like their DNA was being added to an already incubating organism. Its creation came about because their DNA got combined.”

“At least,” Lois interrupted. “As far as we know. That’s why we’re here. They’re getting the baby checked out.”

Suddenly, Tim’s text made sense. “We have…nothing for a baby at the manor. Do…you and Clark have anything from when Jon was born?”

Lois’s grin softened. “Not enough to have everything they’ll need. But enough for the first day or so. Clothes-wise, anyway.”

“They’ll…they’ll have to come stay at the manor.” Bruce turned to Alfred, mind already in hyper drive. “Their…their apartment isn’t big enough. Right?”

“They live in a penthouse, sir, not an apartment.” Alfred smiled. “But I’m sure if you asked they wouldn’t mind coming home for a while. Especially with all the foot traffic of new aunts and uncles that they can surely expect.”

“You already know which room Clark and I are staying in, right, Alfred?” Lois teased.

“Of course, Ms. Lane.” Alfred chuckled. Barry suddenly dashed forward, holding the door open for the three of them. “I’m already devising the floor plans for everyone in my head as we speak.”

And even with the three women in the gift shop, the maternity ward was a madhouse of Supers, Bats and Leaguers alike. Tim was talking with Dinah and Ollie, showing them cribs and mobiles on his phone. Conner was talking with Diana, Donna and the two Wally Wests. Lois was already rejoining Clark, who was speaking with J’onn. Jason had already grabbed Alfred and was gently pulling him towards Koriand’r and Roy.

Barry was stepping up behind him. “Has Dick been…?”

Barry pointed, but it was useless, since Bruce had just spotted him. He was away from the crowds, further down the hall, staring into one of the closed doors, his arms folded across his chest.

Bruce nodded and gave Barry a short grin. Barry gently squeezed his shoulder before disappearing into their friends. Bruce inhaled and slowly walked forward. Everyone immediately gave him passing congratulations, and he smiled softly to each of them in return.

Dick didn’t look at him as he approached, kept just staring into the door. Bruce silently stood next to him, and glanced inside himself.

Damian and Jon stood there, next to a plastic crib. They were in matching teal scrubs that barely hid the few bandages they each had across their bodies. Nothing serious, like everyone had told him so far, but still enough that made his heart beat a little faster.

Jon’s wrist hung over the crib, and Bruce could see tiny fingers clinging to his middle one. His other hand was around Damian’s waist, rubbing calming circles against his hip. His head was up, nodding at whatever the doctor standing across from them and the crib was saying.

Damian, surprisingly, was opposite. His head was down, watching the child. His hand was cupping the baby’s head, stroking gently across its tuft of dark hair.

Bruce couldn’t see any other features on the baby. Its face was blocked by its fat belly and gleefully kicking feet. The hand not latched on to Jon’s waved every so often, where he could see a tube connected.

God, he couldn’t even see it and he adored this child already.

“Can you believe it?” Dick suddenly whispered. Bruce turned his head towards him, but kept his eyes on the door. He heard the baby give a loud squeal. Watched as Jon glanced down and grinned, shaking his captured finger. “Damian’s a dad.”

“So it appears.” Bruce smiled.

“He wasn’t one yesterday. There was no plan for him to be one, yesterday.” Dick continued, practically in awe. “This is…incredible.”

“The universe is an incredible place.” Bruce agreed. “…How long have you been here?”

“About an hour.” Dick admitted. “Damian called me when they hit Earth’s stratosphere.”

“Did you get to see the baby at all?” Bruce asked. In his periphery he saw Dick shake his head.

“They were already in there by the time I got here. Jon came out for a hot second to ask me to bring Lois to the ward when she arrived. But otherwise I haven’t talked to them.” Dick sighed. He shifted nervously from foot to foot. “…It’s almost laughable.”

“What is?”

“Damian’s the first of us to be a dad.” Dick smiled wistfully. “Mr. ‘I-Don’t-Need-Anybody’, Mr. ‘I’m-Not-A-Family-Person’, Mr. ‘Jonathan-and-I-Are-Too-Busy-To-Raise-Children’…and he’s the first of us to have a kid. A biological kid.”

“A biological child conceived and born in hours, from what I was told.” Bruce murmured. He chuckled. “Quite a…peculiar birth. Just like him.”

They lapsed into a silence then, as they continued to watch through the door. They could see both Damian and Jon conversing with the doctor, and suddenly, said doctor was lifting the baby from the crib, taking it out of view. The baby clung to Jon’s finger for as long as it could, even pulling a little as it was pulled away.

Almost immediately, Jon turned to Damian, and the two began to speak softly to each other. Damian’s face looked tired, nervous. Jon’s looked similar, but he smiled anyway, cupping Damian’s face in his hands. Damian clung to his wrists, closing his eyes as he leaned into one of the hands.

“…Do you remember when he was little?” Dick asked softly. “So tough and angry. I’d ruffle his hair and he’d try to cut my arm off.”

“He was a little…prickly.” Bruce smiled warmly. “Focused on nothing but Batman’s mission, and being the best. But you freed him from that viciousness.”

“I had help.” Dick laughed, watching as Jon leaned down and kissed Damian, before the two engulfed each other in an embrace. “Don’t sell yourself so short, old man.”

“Don’t sell yourself short either, Dick.” Bruce bumped his elbow into Dick’s side. “For as much as I loved him at the time anyway, much of his growth was because of you.”

“…Look at him, B.” Dick whispered after a moment. Bruce actually glanced at him now, and saw tears in his eyes. “Look how much he’s grown.”

Bruce put a hand on Dick’s shoulder, gave a squeeze as he glanced back towards the door. Damian was twenty-seven now, Jon twenty-four. Both tall and muscular, though Jon slightly more so, and both perfect mixtures of their parents. Each with their own lives, their own identities, creating their own legacies, their own destinies.

But right now all Bruce could see was the children they were. The friends forced together by their fathers, but almost instantly inseparable. The kids who were stronger than any man, and whose favorite game was to climb a life-sized replica of a tyrannosaurs rex that was nestled in a cave, and eat lunch in its mouth.

Damian said something and Jon laughed. Damian’s eyes lit up and his cheeks turned red as Jon kissed his forehead.

Bruce smiled too.

Friends from childhood. Lovers in adulthood.

And now, fathers.

Clark’s baby was a father. His baby was a father.

“I’m so proud of him.” Dick murmured, voice trembling in joy. “He’s just so happy, Bruce.”

Dick turned away, embarrassingly wiping at his eyes.

“God, don’t let him see me like this.” Dick laughed weakly. “It’ll ruin my chances of being the baby’s godfather.”

“It’s endearing.” Bruce promised, turning to look at him. “If nothing else, it’ll heighten your chances. Besides, you’ll still be its uncle no matter what.” A smirk. “And grandpa, depending on who you ask.”

“Oh god, Bruce no.” Dick laughed, wiping faster at his eyes. “I’m too young to be a grandpa.”

“How do you think I feel?” Bruce asked incredulously. “I just got told by Superman’s wife twenty minutes ago that I’m a grandfather!”

Dick looked over at him, eyes soft, the crinkles around his eyes more noticeable with his smile. “You’ll be a great one, Bruce. The very bes-”

There was the sound of a doorknob turning, a latch unhooking. Dick and Bruce both spun back around towards the door to the exam room to find it opening.

Suddenly, the whole hallway was silent, save for a light whooshing, electric noise. Clark was there instantly, Lois in his arms. Conner appeared with Tim, Jason was just finishing pushing his and Alfred’s way through the Justice Leaguers, and the Flashes were each dutifully helping Stephanie, Cassandra and Kara to their feet.

They all waited with baited breath.

It was Jon who was opening the door, and held it open for Damian to walk through. Damian, who had a swaddled bundle tight in his arms, stepped tentatively into the hallway. As soon as he was through the threshold, Jon was at his side, a protective arm around his back.

When Damian glanced up with his wide, shocked eyes – he looked at Bruce first. Then Clark, then Lois, then finally landed on Dick.

“I…” He croaked. Closed his mouth, cleared his throat. Let himself smile slightly as he returned his gaze to Bruce. “We…we have a daughter.”

He turned the baby outwards slightly. Her eyes were closed, but skin was the perfect mixture of Damian’s tan tones, and Jon’s pale colors. She had Jon’s wild curls, but very clearly Damian’s nose and eyebrows. There were immediately a few gasps and coos among the nearby Leaguers.

“Healthy?” Clark asked. “She checked out okay?”

“Completely perfect.” Jon exhaled in excitement. “Doc said she looks like every other baby he’s ever seen, all the way down to the DNA.”

“Anything about…powers?” Clark pushed.

“Dad.” Jon rolled his eyes. “She’s only a few hours old.”

“The doctor told us to monitor her as she grows, and go over your, Jon’s, Kara’s and even Conner’s personal histories.” Damian explained instead. “And if she does at any point present powers, it will likely follow the same timeline as the rest of you.”

Lois stepped forward, gently pressing her hand to the baby’s head. Like always, she asked the question everyone else was too nervous to.

“What’s her name?”

Jon and Damian glanced at each other, and Jon let out a light laugh.

“Martha.” Damian whispered, looking straight at Bruce, with a quick glance to Clark. “Martha Charlotte.”

“Hello Miss Martha Charlotte.” Lois cooed, leaning down to kiss the baby’s head. Martha just yawned, and curled back into Damian’s chest.

“Whose last name?” Dick asked gently, taking his turn to step forward. “Martha Charlotte Kent? Martha Charlotte Wayne? Hell, Martha Charlotte al Ghul?”

Damian smirked and Jon looked heavenward as he mumbled, “To be determined.”

Dick laughed as he looked between the two men. He let his laughter die out and asked, “You two nervous?”

“Is it that obvious?” Jon countered incredulously. “I mean…jeez, I’m still afraid to hold her!” He leaned into Damian’s back. “What if I…I don’t know, squish her, or something?”

“You won’t, Beloved. I promise.” Damian teased, leaning back to kiss at Jon’s cheek.

Dick smiled, and couldn’t help himself. He leaned forward and pressed his temple against Damian’s, looking down at Martha. She gave a contented sigh.

“I am so, so, so proud of you, Damian.” Dick whispered, squeezing Damian’s arm. Lois nodded in agreement as she ran a hand through Jon’s hair, before returning her attention to the baby. “”I am so proud of you both.”

Damian let himself smile, let himself exhale in what almost sounded like relief as he leaned into Dick. He stood there a moment, let Dick and Lois fawn over the baby, before glancing up again. Clark was watching with a bright smile, one almost too big for his face. Waiting excitedly for his own turn, but clearly quickly losing his patience.

Then he looked to Bruce. Bruce who had just been staring silently since they stepped into the hallway, eyes wide, lips parted. A faint, awed smile was etched gently into his face, and it made Damian’s own smile widen. He slowly stepped away from Jon, Lois and Dick and towards his father, angling towards Clark in the process to include him too. “…Father?”

Bruce looked up at his face, the adoration clear in his old blue eyes.

“…I have a daughter, Father.” Damian breathed, looking towards Martha. She smacked her lips sleepily, and Damian’s smile, impossibly, grew. Let himself smile wider than Bruce had ever seen. “And I just…she is already my whole world. I…I’ve never loved someone so quickly.”

“That’s what having a child does to you, son.” Clark smiled.

Damian’s grin faltered, just slightly. “I’m sure it was not this way when I arrived in your life.”

It was a self-depreciating joke, made to downplay Damian’s importance to every single person in this hallway. But Bruce didn’t take it. Bruce didn’t dare play into the darkness that still plagued his youngest’s mind.

“On the contrary.” Bruce hummed, taking hold of his elbow. “I might have loved you even quicker.”

Damian snorted and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he just kept looking at Martha, shifting his hand to run across her tiny cheek. His voice was barely a breath. “…I have a daughter.”

“And she looks like you.” Bruce noted, poking at Martha’s nose. She scrunched it up and shook her head. Damian laughed, and held her even closer. “…I’m so happy for you.”

Damian looked up then, almost in surprise.

“You’re going to be a great father.” Bruce whispered, squeezing Damian’s elbow. “The best of any of us.”

Damian turned back towards his husband just in time to see Dick grab Jon and wrap him in the biggest hug he could. As Dick released him, Jon glanced over at him. “…And he will be an even greater one.”

Jon, who of course heard the whole conversation with his powers, grinned sheepishly.

Damian giggled as Jon stepped towards him, and kissed his forehead, then leaned down to do the same to Martha. A moment later, he allowed himself a deep breath. “Well. You ready?”

Jon glanced over his shoulder, towards their waiting brothers and sisters, to the entirety of the Justice League waiting behind them. He exhaled sharply. “As I’ll ever be, today.”

Dick laughed as he and Lois helped pushed the new parents forward. As Clark stepped closer to Bruce and hugged him in quiet glee.

“Welcome to the family, Martha.” Dick grinned, gesturing out to everyone, before looking down at the sleeping newborn in Damian’s arms. Damian and Jon looked happily at each other. “We’re so happy you’re here.”

[starkzam]

I have a prompt, if you're interested: "Completely ordinary" Metropolis reporter Clark Kent is in Fawcett to do more research on a recent Superman & Captain Marvel team up to fight Dr. Sivana that took place in Fawcett. He runs in to an amnesiac orphan who can only remember his name: Billy. He ends up taking in Billy & is trying to be a good parent. Unrelated, the Justice League is scouring Fawcett for Marvel, as he went missing after he was shot with a mysterious ray gun that Sivana had built.

OH, MY GODS. THIS. THIS IS EXACTLY MY CUP OF TEA RIGHT HERE. Something that feels somewhat convoluted with hijinks and identity porn thrown in there--

YESSSSS I LOVE THIS IDEA. I also love that it’s reminiscent of the Shazam/Superman movie.... :3

Might post a longer vers. on my Ao3 But for now...

Clark thumped the pen between his fingers rhythmically on the table in front of him, chewing the inside of his cheek in thought. 

After practically begging Perry White to let him do a story on Superman and Captain Marvel’s fight against Dr. Sivanna in Fawcett, he’d come to the quaint town, checked in to a hotel, and set to work.

It’s just too bad he’d come up with nothing so far.

Not the story, no, that was going just fine- he had more than enough information, as well as witness accounts and data (not that Perry needed to know that just yet). 

No, what Clark was struggling with was something else entirely. The reason he’d begged Perry to assign him this story in the first place, allowing him to focus his attention on Fawcett City- that was what was giving him trouble.

Captain Marvel was missing.

The battle that he and the Captain had partnered on had gone somewhat smoothly, all things considered-- Sivana was a cackling lunatic that easily slid into the classic ‘mad scientist’ archetype, and had built some kind of death ray or something. 

To be honest, Clark hadn’t really been paying attention to what the man was saying, especially since half of the things that came out of his mouth made no sense to him and sounded more like an inside joke between the bald man and Captain Marvel.

Not to mention he’d been busy trying to fight off a giant, mutated octopus- which, really, gave him so many questions. Where had he been keeping this? How was it just fine to walk-or, uh, suction-cup around the city? Why did it spit acid of all things?

The reporter rubbed a spot just below his shoulder at the thought, wincing in pain as his fingers grazed sensitive skin. That acid had hurt. He really wished Arthur had been with them, it would have made things much easier- but the truth of the matter was that he hadn't been, and the creature had found Superman a wonderful target.

Regardless, while he was busy with Octo-zilla, Captain Marvel had taken on the mad scientist. Sivana had set up shop atop a radio tower, cackling and ranting on about something or other before taking aim at Captain Marvel when the man cracked a joke about his plan. 

The demigod had redirected a lightning bolt from the sky towards the ray-gun and destroyed it- but not before Sivana was able to shoot him, launching him backward through the sky and sailing through the air as his lightning blew up Sivana's device. 

Superman had managed to get the mutated calamari to submit after while and had detained Sivana quickly there-after- but Captain Marvel never returned. 

At first, Clark thought the man would catch up with him at the Watchtower when he went in to give a report. When Captain Marvel never showed, he got worried. Bruce told him to give the guy a day or two, so he did- no word ever came. 

The Justice League held a meeting, hoping the man would show and explain what had happened to him.

Captain Marvel hadn’t shown up.

To quell the worry running through his teammates’ heads, Clark had volunteered himself to look for the demigod- he'd wanted to help clean up from the battle anyways, and trying to find their missing demigod would help to silence the worry in his own mind as well.

So now, here he was, in Fawcett City as Clark Kent, trying to find his missing teammate.

The raven-haired reporter sighed, rubbing the skin between his eyebrows in frustration as he continued to thump his pen against the table. The diner was small, plain and quiet, run by an old woman and her daughter- the coffee was fresh and warm, and the people were nice. 

Clark had always preferred mom-and-pop places like this to chain-brand places- there was a certain personal touch to a diner like this.

"Need a refill, sir?" a voice asked, pulling the man from his thoughts and causing him to glance up at the woman holding a coffee pot out for him. The daughter, he thought off-handedly, blinking at the soft curls in her hair that reminded her of Lois when she got dolled up.

"Oh, uh, yes, please. Thank you," he said, sliding his half-empty mug toward the woman with a small smile.

She poured the dark liquid into his mug and he gave her a smile, lifting it to his mouth before sudden movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention. He furrowed his brow, glancing out the large window of the diner as a small boy with a mop of black hair ran past him, eyes wide and full of fear as he stumbled over his own feet, crashing onto the sidewalk.

Clark furrowed his brow at the boy, tensing and standing up as the boy clambered clumsily to his feet, ignoring the scrapes on his skin and continuing to run like his life depended on it. 

A few moments later, a pair of teenagers came running past the window. 

Clark didn't need to see anymore- he could tell when someone was in danger. He shuffled out of the booth, slipping a couple of dollars from his wallet before pocketing it, his note pad, and his pen, grabbing his jacket, and taking off out of the diner.

He ran in the direction the children had gone, eyes sharp, and looking for any sign of danger. He didn't slow down until he heard soft, almost inaudible sobs coming from an alley. Clark slowed to a walk, glancing around to see if anyone else was in the area before ducking into the alley. 

He moved slowly, vision suddenly cutting through the various objects in the alleyway- he saw through dumpsters and abandoned boxes, large, plastic trashcans and- 

A small bit of movement caught his eye from the opposite side of a dumpster. He saw a small skeleton sitting on the ground, legs pulled up to its chest, and shaking like a leaf. Clark's hand curled into a fist at the sight of a fractured rib. The Kryptonian closed his eyes and shook the X-Ray vision away, blinking and crouching down slightly as he walked. 

"Hello...?" he said slowly, hearing the small figure's heart skip a beat.  

Clark came a bit closer, leaning forward to look around the dumpster. The small boy with a mop of black hair he'd seen before sat on the ground in front of him, trembling against the wall and staring up at him with terrified, icy blue eyes. "Are you okay, son?" Clark asked gently, putting his hands out placatingly and crouching down further. He made no move to get closer to the boy, and the child just stared at him silently. 

"Do you need help?"

The boy just continued to water at him with wide eyes and a fear that he'd be attacked- or worse. Clark let out a short breath, looking around the alley. They were the only ones there- those teenagers must have taken off after hurting the boy. 

"Are you hurt?" he asked gently, even though he knew the answer. 

The boy reacted to that, bringing his knees in a little closer and hugging himself- something that made him wince in pain. "Careful-" Clark said, reaching out a hand. "Don't- don't hurt yourself worse."

"Look, i'm not gonna hurt you, I promise," the Kryptonian said slowly, scooting a bit closer to the boy. "My name's Clark. Can you speak?" 

The boy nodded slowly. 

Good- good. So he wasn't mute, just scared.

"Can you tell me your name?" 

The small raven stared at him for a moment before chewing on his bottom lip- an action that, surprisingly, felt familiar to the Man of Steel. He furrowed his brow slightly at the thought but shoved it away. This kid was more important right now. 

"...Billy." 

"Okay...well it's nice to meet you, Billy. Do you have a last name to go with that?" he asked. Maybe Bruce could look the kid up and he could get him home to his parents. When the boy began to tear up, Clark felt like he'd said something wrong somehow.

Billy was shaking his head, tears beading in the corners of his eyes. 

"You- you don't have a last name?" Clark asked in confusion.

"I- I don' remember..." the boy mumbled, tears falling down his cheeks. 

Clark felt a cold chill go up his spine. Amnesia. That in itself would be trouble enough, but this was a kid with amnesia- it made things much harder. It had to be retrograde since the boy couldn't remember his last name- he'd have to get him to Bruce so he could run a facial scan. 

"Well, Billy..." he said, coming a bit closer. "Do you mind if I take you to get help? You're hurt, and I wanna help you- but I can't if you don't let me," he said, holding out a hand to the boy. "Will you let me help you?" he asked, looking into the child's icy blue eyes. 

Billy stared at the man's hand, and Clark could almost see the cogs spinning in his mind. He furrowed his brow, meeting Clark's gaze before letting out a shaky breath and nodding. "O-okay," he said, reaching a hand out to grab the reporter's.

Clark gave the boy a soft smile, coming closer to lift the boy into his arms. Billy was tense at first, but he slowly settled into the man’s arms. “Okay, I think I have a friend that can help us with your injury,” he said, glancing towards the entrance of the alley.

Things just got a tad bit more complicated.

[ashthespaceastronautstories]

TEMPER

Temper

You loved Clark with your whole heart he was funny, smart,and kind you honestly couldn’t pick your favorite thing about him if asked it’d be too hard.

So finding out he was the Man of Steel you weren’t as shocked as what you thought you’d be.

“You know Bruce Wayne is going to be in town it’s all over the news.” You announced between bites of your breakfast.

“Bruce? Huh wonder what brings him to Metropolis?” Clark asked brows furrowed slightly as he set his juice down.

“I think it’s about some outreach thing he’s doing in Gotham and expanding here.” You answered. Clark only nodded eyes fixed on the news.

“Oh it’s not that bad, I’m sure he’s a nice guy...you e met him before right?” You asked taking another slice of bacon.

“Yeah I have, he’s a lot nicer than he lets on.” Clark said a smile returning to his face.

Soon night fell and you’d just finished your shift at work and were heading home. Clark had been invited to gala and naturally you were his plus one. So you hurried home and readied yourself for the evening opting for a green dress long sleeves paired with a pair of gold earrings and hair neatly placed in a bun. You could hear Clark in the bathroom, stepping out and adjusting his bow tie. He let out a low whistle upon seeing you.

“We could stay home?” He suggested a grin on his face.

“We can fool around after you finish work.” You replied a soft smile on your lips.

“I’m going to remember that.” Clark said grabbing his and your coats and holding yours up for you to slip on.

The night had been quite the whirlwind all sorts of celebrities had shown up including Bruce Wayne, and while it was impressive you spent your night chatting with Lois and Perry and enjoying the free alcohol. The night was going well, up until the sound of an explosion alarms began going off smoke began filling the banquet hall. People began shoving and yelling and trying to find the exit. Everything was in complete chaos. You had been shoved in the chaos right into the arms of Bruce Wayne. He stilled for moment helping you regain your balance.

Clark searched for you amongst the sea of people he spotted you with Bruce who had caught you when you were shoved. Bruce would help you while he slipped out quickly changing into his kryptonian armor. He rushed back inside helping as many people as he could out of the building, he was soon joined by Bruce now donning his Batman suit as he too helped evacuate as well. When they were finally finished the building had been engulfed in flames.

Clark took a moment scanning the crowd for any signs of you, but he couldn’t. Pulling Bruce to the side still costumed.

“We should go somewhere with less ears.” Bruce said before Clark could even ask his question, letting out an annoyed sigh he did comply.

Soon the duo were alone on the rooftop of an old building in a slightly secluded part of town or a least a part where there weren’t any living residents.

“Okay we’re alone, now where is she?” Clark asked arms folded across his chest.

“She?” Bruce repeated.

“The woman in the green dress, you had helped her up.” Clark explained.

“After I helped her up, I left to change I assumed she escaped with the others.” Bruce stated.

“Y/N? She-she can’t be.” Clark mumbled to himself he felt his heart drop he couldn’t think he felt lost and then angry, and then rage.

“You- you left her you didn’t make sure she was out!” Clark yelled taking a step towards Bruce.

“I couldn’t just focus on one person Clark despite your personal relationship with her.” Bruce replied.

But the more Bruce spoke the angrier he got he saw red and just lunged at him knocking him through the ceiling. Bruce was taken off guard at the sudden outburst. The fight continued until Bruce was able to weaken him with the help of Kryptonite that he kept on hand using the distraction to his advantage Bruce left the man of steel alone in the old decrepit building. Bruce began pulling up any and all information on you. Halfway through his research he was alerted by Alfred you had been located via a security camera of some local shop and he made his way to where you were.

You were leaning against a building in an alleyway your eyes and lungs burned from all the smoke, somehow in all the confusion and chaos you had ended up here hacking your lungs out. You sighed trying to gather yourself you had to find Clark and let him know you were alright you knew he’d be worried since he hadn’t found you already. Steadying yourself you made you way to the Main Street standing on the sidewalk you tried to get your bearings.

You hadn’t even heard the damn car pull all you heard was your name being called. Turning you saw none other than Batman.

“Me?” You asked pointing to yourself.

“He thinks you’re dead.” He said.

“What? Why would he think that?”you asked approaching his vehicle.

“I-he couldn’t find you and assumed the worse...he thinks Wayne abandoned you.” Batman explained.

“Bruce? No I mean he helped me but then we got separated again...I hope he’s okay...I hope everyone’s okay.” You explained. “You have to take me to him he’s- and before you could finish your sentence you were speeding down the street.

He couldn’t believe Bruce would resort to that, especially after what he’s done leaving you behind like that. You were his world and now you were gone. Clark knew you wouldn’t want him like this so angry, and bitter but what good was making the world better if you weren’t in it. Clark let frustrated yell despite his powers coming back he still felt so weak, tears rolled down his cheek the world didn’t deserve him not after you’d been taken so quickly so cruelly he hoped you weren’t in any pain in your final moments, and that you knew how much he loved.

“Hello!” You called as you followed the path of debris left in the wake of the fight you had assumed took place, you had noticed the Batman’s busted lip and had assumed as much had taken place. Stumbling over some bricks and broken pipes you saw Clark on his knees shoulders slumped. You sped up running towards him.

“Are you okay?” You asked extending your hand to touch him but before you could he was already on his feet looking at you a look of shock, pain, and some disbelief.

“Y/N.” He breathed a tear rolling down his cheek he dropped to his knees his arms looping around your waist as he held you.

“I’m okay.” You said after a moment, as you placed a hand on his shoulder the other resting on his head. After another moment Clark was on his feet again and pulling you into his arms as he brought you outside. You were surprised Batman was still here hand in hand you approached the dark knight, Clark spoke first.

“Sorry about..you know..attacking you like that I thought they killed y/n and I lost my temper.” Clark said.

“Next time I’d suggest you think first before doing something stupid” he replied. Clark was silent.

“I was wrong...and thank you.” Clark said looking down at you and before Bruce could say anything else Clark was gone you in his arms.

“Why would you fight Batman over me?” You asked.

“He was helping me evacuate and I know I hadn’t brought you outside so I assumed he must’ve and when I couldn’t find you I just- I lost it.” He explained finally landing at your shared apartment.

“It’s going to take more than a burning building to get rid of me.” You said trying to lighten the mood. “It’s going to be the DMV that’s gonna do it.” You continued with a smile.

“DMV?” He replied with a look of confusion on his face.

“Well yeah I left my purse and coat...and you left your wallet.” You explained. A smile finally broke out on Clark’s face as he let out a soft chuckle his gaze fixed on you as he pulled you into a deep kiss.

[msephy]

Truce for the Cowl - parts 9 & 10

I realize that I never posted part 9.

Sorry, it’s been (argh) more than two years... I didn’t write at all in 2017/2018 except for NaNo. The one from 2017 went really badly (even though I finished it) and discouraged me from writing.

I will try to finish the fic but I don’t promise anything about the pace v_v

Anyway, here is the next part.

Part 5-8 have been posted on AO3 as chapter 2 :)

Part 1 is here for those who want to start at the beginning.

Dick scowled at the new Red Robin suit’s design. He hadn’t commented when he’d seen the original, not with Tim being so enthusiastic about it. The modifications he had implemented so the armor would fit him had been minor.

Yet… Dick didn’t like it. At all.

“What now?” Damian voice sounded annoyed, which he didn’t have much right to be considering he was wearing Robin’s color for one last check before the suit being green-lighted.

“Nothing.”

Somehow, even at 10, Damian managed to make his silences heavy. Dick sighed.

“It has a dark edge. It doesn’t look like Tim at all.”

“Well it had been meant for Todd to begin with,” Damian commented dismissively.

Dick shrugged. To be honest, he didn’t manage to identify what was bothering him so. Tim was growing up and had been forced by circumstances to leave the Robin persona behind him. He had every right to claim darker looks. Nightwing suit itself had been very different from Robin’s, even if the first one Dick had worn had been… well, there was a reason why people referred to it as ‘Discowing’.

But then, he had been the one to design it. Leaving Robin behind had meant finding his own path, becoming an adult, standing on his own. He couldn’t just have stepped in someone else persona at that stage.

Maybe that was the problem. Not that he could discuss that with Damian. The brat had barely calmed down after receiving the title, mocking Tim and asking every day if he was finally ready to leave.

No, it wasn’t fair; Damian’s his comments had lost some of their bite. Dick was even wondering if him asking about Tim’s trip wasn’t more to make sure they’d start looking for Bruce as soon as possible rather than because he actually wanted Tim and Jason to leave.

“I thought he’d find a name for himself, is all,” Dick finally said.

Damian stared at him, for long enough for Dick to raise his eyebrows in a silent question. The kid scoffed.

“He is doing so. Todd isn’t as good as father, obviously, but he has trained with him and with teachers hand-picked by mother. Drake could do much worse than inheriting a name he wore.”

“It’s not the same as finding his own,” Dick protested gently.

This time, Damian looked surprised, his eyes on Dick turning inquisitives. After a few seconds of silence, he finally voiced something Dick had never thought about:

“There is weight in old names. Not everybody wants to make his own.”

Dick stared at this kid who had come all the way to Gotham to take Robin’s cape, so sure it would be his first step to become Batman – a title he thought would certainly become his when he’d proven himself worthy. Of course Damian would find inherited titles important.

“It’s not the same,” Dick mused. “Red Robin isn’t something most people even heard about.”

“Says the one wearing the name of some dead kryptonian myth.”

This time, it was Dick’s turn to gape.

“How do you even know that!?”

Damian snorted. “I did my research.”

“Still not the point, though. I got the idea from Superman himself. Even with Jason helping us now…” Dick didn’t finish his sentence, not wanting to voice out loud that Jason didn’t bear comparison.

Damian only shrugged, going back to strapping the gauntlet to his small wrists. “Drake could do much worse,” he just repeated.

Dick blinked. Because… Damian was actually right, wasn’t he? Thinking back, it was easy to remember Tim had looked up to Dick himself back when he’d started wearing the cape, but also to Jason. The dead boy, the Robin Tim had used to follow all around Gotham to take pictures, worshiping Bruce and him from afar. He had even used to talk to Jason’s case when he thought nobody was watching.

So maybe even now, after everything Jason had done… Maybe Tim still managed somehow to see Robin in him.

Dick went back to testing his cape fabric, humming softly. Jason and Tim travelling together might not be such a bad idea, in the end.

###

Travelling with Jason was a terrible idea. Tim still couldn’t believe he’d gone for it but – well, things had unfolded that way and the relief at Jason believing him weighted in the balance.

Still. His recent losses must have been harder on him than he’d thought if he ended up deciding that the Red Hood was a decent travelling companion.

To be fair, Jason had let him make their travel plan, merely giving some suggestions. It was… weird, somehow. Tim was used to follow people, except with the Titans but – that was different. Jason was from the family, and older, and authoritarian. Seeing Jason Todd follow his lead… Tim couldn’t decide if it was odd or gratifying. Probably both.

Jason had still taken the pilot seat without asking him, so. That allowed Tim to review what little leads he had during their first flight. Maybe it was even the reason why Jason had done it; Tim hadn’t asked. There was no need to antagonize him for such a detail. He was still the Red Hood, after all.

Tim fidgeted in his new costume. (He didn’t have to wear it in the plane but he had to get used to it.) The Red Hood, a name that had some weight. Dick was now Batman, at least until Bruce came back; and Damian Robin, the brat. Tim himself had just become Red Robin. But Jason…

“What is it?”

Tim fought back a grimace. He shouldn’t think too hard when in presence of one of his – brothers? They noticed too many things.

“Nothing.”

“There is something, though.”

Tim refrained from telling him to concentrate on the drive; the autopilot was on and the sky was clear. He’d never hear the end of it if he was the one to start a fight.

“It’s nothing, really.”

Jason rolled his eyes. “Come on. Spit it out.”

Tim grimaced. There was a very fine line between things that would amuse Jason and things that would offend him and, sometime, he felt like an equilibrist trying to figure out which was which.

All right, all the time.

“Just remember that you asked for it,” he said in the end, because refusing to answer Jason was also a good way to anger him. Everything was a good way to anger him. He just got less murderous, lately. Or at least he tried. “It’s just… Now that you’re back – so to speak – not that I have any right to tell you who’s family or who isn’t since you were there before me…”

Jason waved him forward and Tim continued, carefully. “Anyway, now that you’re back in whatever we are. Why stay the Red Hood? I mean. I can understand some of the reasons why you chose the name in the first place. But why keep it now? Why not change it to something less… offensive, I guess? Or more in theme? I’m sure Dick already thought about Jaybird,” he finished, holding the joke at the end like an olive branch.

To his surprise, Jason didn’t snap something back at him right away. He looked like he was actually thinking about it, which was more than Tim had expected. Jason’s first words, likewise, surprised him.

“Do you know why Bruce is Batman? Of all things?”

“Yes of course,” Tim answered without thinking. “Because he was afraid of bats.”

“Exactly.”

Tim’s eyes widened. Oh. Of course.

Jason was staring at the sky outside, not looking at him as if he didn’t care, as if he hadn’t just dropped such a personal piece of information. Tim blinked. He was trying, wasn’t he? Two weeks ago, he’d never have answered that question.

Two weeks ago, Tim wouldn’t have had any reason to ask.

“Thank you,” Tim said, after a while.

Jason nodded. For some reason, Tim felt something unknot in his gut. They weren’t any closer to finding Bruce; even if he was alive, finding him would be difficult and could take a long time. Yet… Maybe they’d manage without him, for a little while.

See you at next part (I hope it won’t be in 2021 v_v;;)

Note: I’ll post part 8-11 as chapter 3 in AO3 once I’ve written all four of those...

[lopithecusfanfiction]

Mishaps in Raising a Baby: Chapter Two

Author: Lopithecus Pairing: Clark Kent/Bruce Wayne Rating: Explicit Word Count: 1403 Alternate: AO3, fanfiction.net Author's Note: N/A

Chapter Two:

“And… there.” Bruce presses the button on the tablet to accept the video call. He moves the tablet in front of Ko who is currently splashing in the bathtub with Bruce seated right behind him, legs bent on either side of Ko. It’s the next night from when Ko had hit Bruce, breaking his nose, and Bruce had decided to take a bath with him. “Look who is on the screen.” Bruce points to the screen where Clark’s face currently is. “Say hi.”

Ko immediately becomes excited and splashes vigorously in the water. “Bye-bye, bye-bye.”

Clark laughs, his smile loving. “Hi Clark.”

“Bye-bye,” Ko says enthusiastically.

“Are you talking to Clark Jr.?” Bruce hears Lois’ voice. Clark and her are currently sharing a hotel room and so Clark can’t say Ko’s Kryptonian name until she is gone. Lois comes into view next to Clark. Luckily Ko’s body hides Bruce’s crotch. “Awe, he’s gotten so big!” She waves and Ko squeals. “Hello, Clark. Hello.”

Bruce allows Lois to fond over Ko for a few minutes, asking questions about him and talking directly to Ko in a baby voice. Then, once he deems Lois has had enough time gushing over his child, he says without showing himself, “Hey, Lois? I don’t want to sound rude but do you think you could give Clark and I some time to talk privately? There’s some important things we need to discuss.”

“Of course, Bruce. I’ll just… go to a bar or something.” She laughs. “Bye-bye Clark,” She says to Ko.

“Bye-bye,” he says back and Lois squeals again. Soon, she is gone and Bruce hears the door shut behind her.

“So, do you want to see it?”

Clark sighs. “Yeah.” Bruce brings the tablet up to his face, showing Clark his nose. “Oh gosh. That’s worse than I thought it was.”

“I told you he broke it.”

Clark wipes at his face. “I know and I know I’ve seen you with a broken nose before but Bruce, this was done by our one year old.”

“I know.”

“What are we going to do about it?”

Ko reaches up for the tablet, making a small whining sound. “Bye-bye.”

Bruce lifts the device up and out of Ko’s reach. The last thing he needs is for the thing to be dropped into the bathtub. “I don’t know. I guess we just have to keep discouraging it.”

Ko makes an annoyed and frustrated sound. “Bye-bye,” he says angrily.

Bruce ignores him as he listens to Clark. “We have to do something. I don’t like the thought of him hurting you or worse, one of the boys or someone else who isn’t family like some stranger. How would we explain him being so strong?” At this point, Ko thinks it’s a great idea to smack Bruce in the face hard enough to make his head swing and hit the side of the wall. He drops the tablet but luckily catches it before it hits the water. “Bruce!”

“Fuck!” He sets the tablet beside the tub and reaches up to his head. Ko is crying and trying to reach for the tablet that he can’t get to. Bruce brings his hands back to inspect them. His nose is bleeding again but no blood came from where he had hit his head. He washes his hand of the blood, grabs Ko and places him outside of the tub, and then gets out himself.

Ko immediately goes to the tablet and leans over it to see Clark, smiling. “Bye-bye.”

“Bruce?” Clark questions but Bruce ignores him, grabbing a wad of toilet paper and pressing it to his nose.

He then picks up the tablet and Ko floats up beside him so he can still see the screen. “That fucking hurt.”

Clark's eyes dart to Ko and then back to Bruce. “Did he do it hard again?”

“What do you think?” Bruce asks, clearly annoyed. “This is getting out of hand Clark. I don't mind being beat up on, I'm used it, but I am not letting him hurt anyone else.”

“I know.” Clark sighs. “Look, let me do some research on how to stop babies from hitting. I'll also call my mother in the morning and ask for her advice.” Bruce glares at the baby floating next to his head. “Are you going to put him to sleep?”

Bruce rolls his eyes with a sigh. “Yeah. He didn't get much of a bath.” He lowers the tissues and eyes himself in the mirror. The bleeding has stopped but it's going to take longer for his nose to heal now. “Fucking rammed my head against the wall.” Bruce walks into his room, Ko flying behind him in order to follow. He places the tablet down on his bed, gets into a pair of sweatpants, and then grabs Ko out of the air. Ko snuggles into him, resting his head on Bruce’s shoulder. “When did you get your super strength again?” Bruce calls, setting Ko down on the bed in order to get him into his pajamas.

“I was nine.”

“Nine year olds listen better and have better control of themselves than one year olds,” Bruce mumbles, dressing Ko. When Ko has his pajamas on, he picks him back up and then grabs the tablet. Ko snuggles into his chest again as he goes to the nursery. He places Ko into the crib. “Night, night time.”

Ko claps his hands and then reaches for the tablet. “Bye-bye?”

“Yes, yes, here’s Bye-bye.” Bruce allows Ko to see Clark on the screen and Ko smiles happily.

“Goodnight Ko. Papa loves you,” Clark says to him.

“Bye-bye, bye-bye!” Ko waves at the device, Bruce leans down and kisses his head, then leaves.

Alfred is waiting outside the door. He raises an eyebrow. “Again Sir?”

Bruce rolls his eyes. “Yes. Be careful with him, Alfred. If he tries to get out of his crib then call me immediately. Do not pick him up.”

“Very well, Sir.” Alfred enters the nursery in order to make sure Ko goes to sleep.

Bruce heads back to his room and crawls into his bed. He’s decided to not go out as Batman tonight. Not after being hit by Ko. He lies down on his side and then holds the tablet out with a sigh. “Are you okay?” Clark asks.

With his free hand, Bruce runs it through his hair, closing his eyes. “My head hurts. I might have a concussion.”

“Should you have Alfred look at you?” Bruce shakes his head, opening his eyes to look at Clark. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come home?”

“I’m sure Clark. It’s only two more days.”

“Two more days of my husband being abused by our son.”

“As long as it’s me.”

“I want it to be no one,” Clark pouts.

“Well, yeah, of course. Do you think I like being hit?” Bruce shrugs. “But if it has to be anyone, then I want it to be me.”

“I just don’t get it. He’s never been like this before,” Clark says. “Yeah, he’s accidently hit someone with super strength, but after the first couple of times that he deliberately hit you, he hasn’t done it purposely since because I thought we had nipped it in the bud.”

“Apparently it didn’t’ stick.”

“I’m sorry Bruce.”

“For what?” Bruce asks, confused. “It’s not like you are encouraging it. Not after your mother scolded you that time.”

“I know but I still feel a bit responsible.” Clark pauses.

“What?”

“You don’t think… you don’t think it’s because of Lord Superman do you?”

“Meaning?”

“Well, Lord Superman was a jerk and when he took Ko… well, Ko saw a lot of violence.” Clark shrugs. “Do you think that’s why he’s doing this?”

“No.” Bruce shakes his head. His pounding headache intensifies with the movement. “He was doing this before that happened. Besides, if that is what was influencing him to act like this, then it would have been immediately after that incident. Not months.”

Clark sighs. “Yeah, I know. I guess I’m just grasping at straws trying to find answers.”

Bruce smiles at him. “We’ll figure it out Clark. Now,” he rubs a hand down his face, avoiding his nose. “I would really like to get some sleep.”

“Is it okay to do that with a possible concussion?”

“Clark.”

“Sorry. Goodnight, Bruce. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

A/N: Thanks for reading!